Newsom accuses Trump of ‘lying to Americans’ over claims California voting system is rigged
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: A new war of words has erupted between California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump after the president made fresh claims about California's voting system during an appearance on Lara Trump's show.
The latest clash unfolded after Trump claimed California has no voting booths and that all voting in the state is conducted through mail-in ballots.
Trump is actively lying to Americans. Again. This time it’s to keep you from voting. Don’t believe him. https://t.co/YISpBO7mHm
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 31, 2026
Newsom fires back after Donald Trump’s California voting remarks
The controversy began after Trump appeared on 'My View with Lara Trump' and discussed California's election system.
During the conversation, Trump claimed the state no longer has voting booths and suggested voting is conducted entirely through the mail.
Newsom quickly pushed back, accusing the president of spreading false information about elections.
“Trump is actively lying to Americans. Again. This time it’s to keep you from voting. Don’t believe him,” Newsom wrote on X.
Trump has repeatedly questioned California elections
The latest remarks are not the first time Trump has targeted California's voting system.
On May 20, while speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews before traveling to Connecticut for a commencement address at the US Coast Guard Academy, Trump again questioned the state's election process.
“You have a rigged vote out there, that's the problem,” Trump said. “The votes are rigged. You have a really rigged vote in California.”
He also criticized mail-in voting.
Trump: If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would've won California because I do great with Hispanics pic.twitter.com/k2qOMsVmNC
— Headquarters (@HQNewsNow) May 20, 2026
“You have all the mail-in ballots, everything else. Very hard to win because the elections are very dishonest,” Trump added.
Trump then made one of his most attention-grabbing claims while discussing election results in the state.
“If we had Jesus Christ come down and count the votes, I would have won California, because I do great with Hispanics,” he said.
The president continued by calling California “one of the most dishonest states” and suggested he could eventually create a ranking of states based on election integrity.
Newsom’s election law reflects growing concerns over voting disputes
The governor's response to Trump also comes shortly after he signed Senate Bill 73 into law.
The legislation prevents law enforcement officers from taking custody of ballots or election equipment from county election officials, even when operating under a search warrant.
The bill gained momentum after a dispute earlier this year in Riverside County, where Sheriff Chad Bianco seized more than 600,000 ballots from the county registrar's office while investigating possible voter fraud concerns.
Bianco said the move was intended to determine whether improper voting activity had occurred.
State officials, however, maintained there was no evidence that the ballots had been illegally cast or altered.
Before signing the bill, Newsom said stronger protections were necessary.
“We have to step up, and we have to draw the line. We have to clarify the rules of engagement,” he said.
“It’s a warning to the folks out there that think they can do the bidding of the Trump administration,” Newsom added.
Under the new law, county registrars are prohibited from handing over ballots or election equipment to law enforcement agencies.
