California Governor Gavin Newsom and MAGA-aligned Texas Governor Greg Abbott have once again clashed, this time over the sudden deployment of Texas National Guard troops into Illinois. The move came after Abbott authorized 400 of his state’s soldiers to assist President Donald Trump’s order to send troops into several Democrat-led cities.
Abbott’s MAGA Troops Move Into Another Democrat-Run City
The controversy erupted when troops were spotted training at an Army Reserve facility outside Chicago over the weekend. Governor Abbott confirmed that he had “fully authorized” the operation, claiming it was necessary “to ensure safety for federal officials.” However, this decision triggered widespread criticism, especially from Democratic governors who said Trump’s actions violate state authority.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker quickly expressed outrage, calling Abbott’s cooperation with the former president’s MAGA agenda an overreach of power. He accused the Texas governor of supporting what he described as an unconstitutional intrusion into his state’s affairs. Meanwhile, Newsom, whose state of California was the first target of Trump’s MAGA-driven troop deployments earlier this year, decided to respond in his own sharp and sarcastic way.
California declares war on loud commercials — Gavin Newsom signs law to silence streaming annoyances
Newsom Calls Out Abbott’s “MAGA Double Standard”
Governor Gavin Newsom took to social media to highlight what he called Abbott’s “blatant MAGA hypocrisy.” Sharing a screenshot of a 2024 press release titled “Governor Abbott Condemns President Biden’s National Guard Power Grab,” Newsom added a short but cutting caption: “This you?”
The phrase, often used online to expose inconsistencies or hypocrisy, quickly went viral. Social media users flooded Abbott’s posts with similar comments, pointing out his change of stance on the issue of federal control over state troops.
Just over a year ago, Abbott had openly criticized then-President Joe Biden for proposing a policy that would allow the U.S. Air Force to reassign National Guard troops. At the time, Abbott, along with other governors, signed a letter calling Biden’s move a “power grab” that threatened state sovereignty. He warned that federalizing the National Guard would “sideline governors” and create an “intolerable threat” to state authority.
Gavin Newsom weaponizes crypto with “Trump Corruption Coin” in redistricting war against Trump
Now, under President Trump, Abbott appears to be supporting the very same kind of federal intervention he once opposed. Newsom’s post underlined this dramatic reversal, turning the Texas governor’s earlier words into a political weapon.
Appearing later on The Rachel Maddow Show, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker echoed the sentiment, calling Abbott a “tool of the MAGA movement.” He argued that Abbott’s actions prove his loyalty to Trump’s MAGA leadership outweighs his commitment to the Constitution.
Trump’s Expanding National Guard Deployments
President Donald Trump’s latest MAGA moves have stirred national debate. His administration has now sent National Guard troops into four major U.S. cities, all governed by Democrats. These include Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Portland, and now Chicago.
In June, nearly 5,000 troops were deployed to Los Angeles to suppress protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Two months later, Trump ordered around 2,450 troops into Washington, D.C., citing a “crime emergency.” In September, he announced via his Truth Social platform that troops were being sent into Portland, Oregon — which he called a “war-ravaged city” — to protect ICE facilities he claimed were “under siege from Antifa and other domestic terrorists.”
The MAGA administration has also hinted at future deployments in other Democrat-led cities such as New York, San Francisco, Oakland, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Baltimore.
For governors like Newsom and Pritzker, these actions represent a direct attack on state control. Newsom said during an episode of his podcast This Is Gavin Newsom that Trump’s deployments had created a “constitutional crisis.” He accused the MAGA administration of using the National Guard for political purposes rather than genuine security concerns.
Not all governors oppose Trump’s orders, however. In Tennessee, Republican Governor Bill Lee publicly welcomed the National Guard presence in Memphis, saying it would help fight rising crime. Troops began patrolling parts of the city early Friday morning, marking the fifth active deployment under the president’s MAGA directive.
As tensions grow between red and blue states, the conflict between Newsom and Abbott reflects the deep political divide over federal power and state rights. Abbott’s reversal on National Guard authority — and Newsom’s quick trolling response — has become one of the most talked-about moments in the ongoing MAGA-versus-Democrat battle.
For now, the deployment continues, with thousands of troops stationed in major cities across the country and heated exchanges dominating political conversations online and in the media. The clash between Newsom and Abbott has not only drawn attention to the issue of federal overreach but also reignited debates over the limits of presidential authority during times of domestic unrest.
