'He's targeting me because I'm thinking about running for president,' the California governor stated about Trump on Monday
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday accused US President Donald Trump of directing the Justice Department to carry out a politically driven probe into him and his spouse.
"Donald Trump isn't coming after me just because of my harsh tweets," Newsom said in a video statement posted on social media.
"He's targeting me because I'm contemplating a presidential bid."
Federal law enforcement officers in Sacramento, California, have been carrying out multiple inquiries related to the governor, including into his wife, since 2025, according to a person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly. The individual added that the probes did not start in Washington but in California.
Newsom is frequently mentioned as a leading candidate for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Limited by term limits in his current position, Newsom has increased his national visibility, visited early primary states, and has acknowledged he would "be lying" if he claimed he wasn't weighing a White House bid.
The investigation into the governor's wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, concerns her taxes, the person familiar with the matter said. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated it involves a charity co-founded by Siebel Newsom that advocates for gender equality.