By Isabella Torregiani
3:07am PDT, Jun 12, 2025
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Speaker of the House
Mike Johnson made headlines after calling for California Governor
Gavin Newsom to be "tarred and feathered" over his handling of the ongoing ICE protests in Los Angeles.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, June 10, Johnson couldn't give legal advice but said Newsom should be publicly ostracized for interfering with federal enforcement.
Keep reading for more on Johnson's comments … MORE:
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During a press conference on Capitol Hill, House Speaker Mike Johnson didn't hold back when asked about the Governor of California's actions.
"I'm not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested, but he ought to be tarred and feathered," he said.
"Look, he's standing in the way of the administration and the carrying out of federal law," Johnson added. "He is applauding the bad guys and standing in the way of the good guys."
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Gavin Newsom responded to Mike Johnson's remark
on X, writing, "Good to know we're skipping the arrest and going straight for the 1700's style forms of punishment."
The governor made a final jab towards the speaker, claiming, "A fitting threat given the @GOP want to bring our country back to the 18th Century."
Tarring and feathering is a form of public punishment that was popular in colonial times. Today, it's largely used metaphorically to suggest public shaming.
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The protests in Los Angeles began on Friday, June 6, in response to a wave of ICE raids. By Saturday, President Donald Trump had called in the National Guard to support local police.
Gavin Newsom condemned the move and, alongside California Attorney General Rob Bonta, filed a lawsuit to block the federal deployment.
At the press conference, Mike Johnson dismissed the legal case as "a joke."
"Do your job, man, that's what I tell Gavin Newsom: Do your job. Stop working on your rebranding and be a governor."
