California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) doubled down on his decision to pull his National Guardsmen from the U.S.-Mexico border during his Friday interview on “The View.” He withdrew them in February to rebuke to President Donald Trump.
“I pulled the National Guard because I don’t want to be part of this political theatre. I pulled the National Guard because we don’t have a national emergency,” Newsom said to a round of applause.
“I pulled the National Guard because I wanted to push back against Trump,” he continued. “We have 47 lawsuits against the Trump administration, not because we wake up every morning choosing to advance those suits, but because we stand up for our principles and values.”
Newsom said because he is in charge of the most diverse state in the most diverse democracy, he wants to put a “human face” to the migrants seeking asylum at the border.
NEW: California Gov. @GavinNewsom says he withdraw National Guard troops from the state’s southern border with Mexico because “we didn’t have a national emergency”: “I didn’t want to be a part of this political theatre.” https://t.co/YP8cWV996p pic.twitter.com/qFKqgNcdO8
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) March 15, 2019
“I want to elevate the human spirit. That’s what California represents and I think that’s what America represents at its core. We reject Trump,” he concluded.
Newsom is not alone in his decision. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) also decided to withdraw their Guardsmen in protest against Trump.
"There is simply not ample evidence to support the president's contention that there exists a national security crisis at our southwestern border. Therefore, there is no justification for the ongoing presence of Wisconsin National Guard personnel at the border,” Evers said. “I cannot support keeping our brave service men and women away from their families without a clear need or purpose that would actively benefit the people of Wisconsin or our nation.”
Since then, the Department of Defense has deployed 1,000 more active-duty troops to the border to continue supporting the Department of Homeland Security.