Newsom has ramped up his anti-Trump rhetoric in recent weeks, while privately advocating for federal disaster relief funds to help the state recover from the January Los Angeles wildfires

President Donald Trump has said that "large scale fines will be imposed" on California if transgender athletes compete in girls' competitions.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday suggested California consider withholding tens of billions in annual federal tax dollars amid reports Donald Trump is preparing funding cuts targeting the state. Newsom’s suggestion came after CNN reported the president was considering a “full termination” of federal grant funding for California’s universities.