California Gov. Gavin Newsom hit back at the Trump administration after federal officials were spotted outside of his press conference in downtown Los Angeles.
Newsom announced on Thursday that the California legislature would enter a special session to approve new electoral maps unless Texas and other Republican states stop their redistricting efforts. Outside the event, federal Border Patrol agents conducted an operation.
The governor discussed the event on a YouTube episode of Pod Save America with former White House staffer Dan Pfeiffer, who worked in President Barack Obama's administration.
"Pretty sick," Newsom said of the ICE agents roaming outside the press conference. "He sent the border patrol. He sent the regional head of the border patrol out here."
Trump has routinely threatened to deploy federal agents to multiple cities to address local crime. Earlier this year, he deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles to counter protests of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. He has also threatened to send troops to Baltimore and Chicago.
Newsom added that the Border Patrol operation drew a historical parallel for Californians.
"Border Patrol was out there at the exact same site that the Japanese were being picked up and bused decades ago to intimidate," Newsom added. "You think of all the places to be in this country, they chose to be here at this exact time. That's how weak and pathetic the Trump administration is. How desperate they are.
"What more evidence do people need about what's at stake in this country and why California needs to do this?" Newsom added.
Watch the entire clip below or by clicking here.