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By Jenna Sundel and Hannah Parry
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House Speaker Mike Johnson blasted Gavin Newsom for doing "anything for attention," after the California governor pointed out that Louisiana, Johnson's home state, has a significantly higher crime rate than California.
During Johnson's appearance on Fox News on Friday, the hosts played a clip of Newsom stating that Louisiana had a murder rate "nearly four times higher than California's."
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"Gavin Newsom will do anything for attention," Johnson said. "He can name-drop me all he wants. He needs to go and govern his state and not be engaging in all of this."
Johnson said that his hometown of Shreveport "has done a great job of reducing crime" but acknowledged that crime had to be addressed "everywhere that it rears its ugly head."
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Why It Matters
The Trump administration has repeatedly claimed that Democratic-run cities and blue states have become overrun with violent crime. President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the National Guard in major hubs such as Chicago, New York and San Francisco. However, crime statistics show that many Republican-run states and cities have equal, or higher, rates of crime.
What To Know
Newsom and 18 other Democratic governors released a joint statement on Thursday alleging that Trump "continues to politicize our military by trying to undermine the executive authority of Governors as Commanders in Chief of their state's National Guard."
"Whether it's Illinois, Maryland and New York or another state tomorrow, the President's threats and efforts to deploy a state's National Guard without the request and consent of that state's governor is an alarming abuse of power, ineffective, and undermines the mission of our service members," the governors said. "This chaotic federal interference in our states' National Guard must come to an end."
Earlier this month, Trump announced that Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department would be placed under federal control. He also directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to mobilize the National Guard.
The president has spoken about taking action to curb crime in other cities, as well.
"Governor Pritzker had 6 murders in Chicago this weekend. 20 people were shot. But he doesn't want to ask me for help. Can this be possible? The people are desperate for me to STOP THE CRIME, something the Democrats aren't capable of doing. STAY TUNED!!!" Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.
Last week, Trump told reporters, "I think Chicago will be next, and then we'll help with New York."
What People Are Saying
House Speaker Mike Johnson, on Fox News: "My hometown of Shreveport has done a great job of reducing crime, gradually, but we've got to address it everywhere that it rears its ugly head. And I think every major city in the country, the residents of those cities, are open to that and anxious to have it. And we're the policy, we're the party that's going to bring that forward."
California Governor Gavin Newsom, during a news conference: "I hope the president of the United States would look at the facts. Just consider Speaker Johnson's state and district. Just look at the murder rate that's nearly four times higher than California's."
What Happens Next
On Wednesday, Trump said he is working with Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune on a "comprehensive crime bill."
"It's what our Country need[s], and NOW! More to follow," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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