Last week, California’s legislature kicked off a special session aimed at “Trump-proofing” the state. The timing couldn’t be worse. California needs Trump more than its politicians care to accept. Next week, he’ll be in the Oval Office, controlling the federal purse strings. He’s already called California’s leaders incompetent and told Governor Newsom to “resign.” Senator John Barrasso has made it clear—any federal money California gets will come with strings attached.
Good. It’s time someone challenged the California governance model because it isn’t working. With Trump holding the leverage, change is already happening. Newsom has suspended environmental reviews for rebuilding homes and businesses damaged by wildfires. That’s a blow to his lofty green agenda, but it’s a start.
Then there’s California’s sanctuary state status. The state has spent $25 million fighting Trump’s immigration policies, continuing to encourage illegal crossings and protecting criminal aliens from deportation. But Trump won’t sit by while California undermines federal immigration law. It’s hard to see how this defiance can last when federal dollars are on the line.
The deal includes $25 million Newsom proposed for the state Department of Justice to fight the federal government in court shortly after Trump’s reelection in November—plus $25 million more proposed by state Senate leaders to defend immigrants against deportation, detention, and wage theft. The $25 million proposed by the Senate would fund grants for legal nonprofits and immigration support centers.
And still, Newsom shows no signs of respecting the president-elect. He’s accused Trump of politicizing disasters, conveniently ignoring that California’s policies share the blame. Years of poor forest management and an anti-business climate haven’t exactly helped. Companies and residents are fleeing the state in droves. The signs of failure are everywhere, from homelessness and crumbling infrastructure to wildfires and the mass exodus of high-income taxpayers.
Trump isn’t going to fund California’s dysfunction. If the state wants federal money, it will have to make fundamental changes. This is the moment to rethink the California model—high taxes, overregulation, and runaway spending—and admit that it isn’t sustainable. Trump has the upper hand here, and he knows it.
Trump and GOP lawmakers are targeting environmental policies they claim negatively impact farming and agriculture in the state, including the $17 million cut to the Los Angeles Fire Department and a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
“You’re also seeing gross mismanagement in California by elected officials, and it’s heartbreaking to hear the fire chief say that they’ve diverted all of this money away from the fire department to be used for social programs when they were already stretched too thin,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) in an interview Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation.
But this isn’t just about California. The state’s implosion is a lesson for the rest of the country. For years, progressives have held California up as a model for the nation. Now, its failures are on full display. Other states can learn from this and avoid California’s mistakes. There’s no need to follow the same ruinous path.
Change is coming, whether California’s leaders like it or not. Trump will demand reforms, and California will have no choice but to comply. It won’t be easy, but it’s necessary. This showdown may even spark a broader conversation about what works and what doesn’t in governance.
California’s defiance might score political points with progressives, but it won’t fix the state’s problems. Trump isn’t going to bankroll a system that’s clearly broken. The state needs to examine its policies and start making smarter choices. This isn’t just a crisis—it’s an opportunity to turn things around.
Ultimately, the standoff between Trump and California could pave the way for real progress—not just for the state, but for the entire country. Let California be the example of what not to do and, hopefully, the beginning of a much-needed course correction. Maybe Democrat-proofing California makes more sense?
