The key facts

  • Newsom urged the new Democratic Congress to pursue accountability and reverse the 'most extreme excesses' of the Trump administration
  • Democrats won both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections
  • In October, an appeals court upheld the block on the federalization of the California National Guard

Calls for a New Congress

California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking on the sidelines of the UN COP31 climate conference in Antalya on Thursday, told Anadolu in an interview that the new Democrat-controlled Congress should quickly pursue accountability for the Trump administration and review part of its policies. According to him, this concerns corruption 'unlike anything the country has ever seen in its history,' and restoring trust through investigations. At the same time, he emphasized that accountability measures should go hand in hand with legislative victories: 'we need to simultaneously undo some of the most extreme excesses of the Trump administration.'

Election Context and Legal Conflicts

Democrats won majorities in both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, taking them from the Republicans. Starting in January, this will give the party more opportunities to scrutinize the administration's actions, launch parliamentary investigations, and counter its legislative agenda. Newsom expressed confidence that a Democratic Congress would begin this process 'with the intensity and expectations that the American people have set,' adding that voters want quick results.

California vs. the White House

Newsom himself is in a protracted legal conflict with the Trump administration. California challenged several of the president's decisions in court, including the federalization of the state's National Guard and the deployment of troops to Los Angeles in June 2025 amid protests against federal immigration raids. The state argued that Trump exceeded his authority by taking control of the Guard without the governor's consent. In October, a federal appeals court upheld the decision blocking the deployment and ordered the administration to return control of the National Guard to Newsom.

Question of Presidential Ambitions

When asked about a possible run in the presidential election, Newsom replied briefly — 'we'll see' — neither ruling out a candidacy nor offering any further explanation.