California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed President Donald Trump's administration with a fact check over its latest effort to claim his state's tolerance of immigrants is getting people killed.
The controversy stems from a Fox News report from Bill Melugin, posted to X on Friday, that "An official with the California State Transportation Agency confirms to @FoxNews that Indian illegal alien truck driver Jashanpreet Singh’s California CDL is also a federal REAL ID, 'which he was entitled to receive given the federal gov’s confirmation of his legal status.'” Singh is currently facing charges for a deadly DUI.
After this post went up, the official account for the Department of Homeland Security blasted Newsom over the incident.
"Newsom’s pro-illegal alien policies COST LIVES. Now that California’s policies have led to disaster, he’s attempting to shift the blame," said the account. "In Gavin Newsom’s California, possessing employment authorization is enough to grant someone a commercial driver’s license (CDL). CALIFORNIA is solely responsible for deciding who they give a CDL to. California’s sanctuary state policies are 100% to blame for providing an individual who was NOT an American citizen, and did NOT have legal status with a CDL. Now Gavin’s actions have killed Americans."
Newsom, though, was quick to hit back, and accused the Trump administration of lying.
"Lies. Kosplay Kristi and Road Rules Duffy can’t keep their story straight!" said the account for Newsom's press office. First, the post said, "Noncitizens are eligible for CDLs — Kristi and Sean should know that!" Second, "They say he is 'illegal' but the Trump Admin CONFIRMED his legal presence and renewed his work permit ... The Trump Admin renewed his work authorization — allowing him to be eligible for a CDL."
"And since Kristi and Sean need reminding: CA-licensed CDL holders are involved in fatal crashes at a rate FAR BELOW the national average," Newsom's account added. "They may want to look into Texas, which has a 50% HIGHER rate than California."
Newsom has emerged as one of the most confrontational Democratic governors on social media, often trolling Trump by writing manifestos in his own writing style — and engineering a redistricting plan, to be decided by voters next month, that retaliates against the GOP's mid-decade gerrymanders at Trump's orders.