And just last month, California officially passed Germany to become the fourth-largest economy in the world. Yet today it is home to a booming $4.1 trillion GDP. This unique distinction leaves the first state in the union trailing only the United States as a whole, China, and Germany in total economic output. The Golden State has long held the helm as the country’s technological innovator. With its diverse population, it is one of the main cities on national and world stages these rapid changes in economic and social policies.
During his 2023 State of the State address, Governor Gavin Newsom likewise underscored California’s resilient economy. He moved on to proclaim, “Democracy is under attack right now – the time we’ve dreaded has come.” His comments underscore a growing – and possibly more harmful – conflict between state executives and federal law enforcement. This is particularly timely in light of former President Donald Trump’s avowed animosity towards California.
Ever since the 2016 campaign, Trump has sought to make California an avatar of everything he believes is wrong with, and destroying, his beloved America. His administration has filed a number of complaints against the state, most notably recently threatening to cut federal education funds in half. This action, first reported by Politico, plays directly into Trump’s larger story that Californians have been let down by their leaders and left behind.
California has been the most aggressive in this regard, having declared itself a sanctuary state as far back as 2018. It has passed policies that prevent local and state actors from working with federal immigration enforcement. This passage speaks to California’s trajectory as a socio-economic bellwether of the nation. Drexel Heard, a political analyst, articulated this sentiment: “We are the antithesis to the Stephen Miller – ironically, from Santa Monica – view of what America should be. We are the immigration policy state of the nation. We’re the socioeconomic future of the country, home to the dynamic state with the fourth largest economy in the world. And [Donald Trump] hates that nobody in California cares about him at all, not one bit.
The stakes are high — for both, as Trump and California’s war of words escalates. This escalation culminated in the deployment of military forces to Los Angeles during racial justice protests, which then-President Trump dubbed “insurrectionists.” Theatre aside, California struck back with surprising speed and strength against federal overreach. During the first three months of Trump’s presidency, the state filed 16 lawsuits to block the administration— nearly twice the rate of his first term in office.
Trump has recently taken credit for the releases of water to benefit agriculture in the Central Valley. He challenged everyone to dream big when he even proclaimed, “I conquered Los Angeles, and we breached the dam, and the water is flowing downhill now.” These claims were mostly discredited because little of that water made it to Los Angeles.
Critics argue that Trump uses California as a scapegoat for his political agendas. Political strategist Bob Shrum predicted, “He likes to create a California for him to make an enemy of. California can be his bete noire, the other side of what he says is wrong with everything. Shrum further elaborated on California’s cultural significance, stating that it represents “tolerance,” “diversity,” and “helping poor people,” values seemingly at odds with Trump’s rhetoric.
While California cements its international economic standing, it deals with the picture being painted by Trump’s national government. The preservation and development of the state’s cultural identity, including an appreciation for diversity, has formed the core of a developing war between progressive and conservative culture and values.
Writer and policy expert Bill Whalen took to the LA Times to condemn the framing of recent protests in Los Angeles. He noted that while Democratic leaders describe these gatherings as peaceful, “the visuals which show rocks and cinder blocks being thrown and cars on fire… That’s not peace.” These types of statements are indicative of the contentious climate in which political discourse lays in the state today.
Beyond these economic and social developments, perhaps more surprising is Trump’s increased attention on California has resonated well with his core supporters. He’s very good at hitting those themes on “coastal elitism” and “wokeness.” Shrum noted that what’s happening in LA is contained to about two square blocks. He noted that all but 0.01% of this spirited city’s undertaking business is continuing as well. This additional observation further highlights how Trump’s distorted framing misses the larger picture of what urban life is really like in the state of California.
Newsom’s administration has been committed to standing up for democratic ideals in the face of this deepening conflict. He voiced concern over Trump’s comments regarding state governance, stating, “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican; this is a line we cannot cross as a nation – this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”
California is leaning into its new economic leading role. It’s unclear how this will play out in the future with increased tension from the Biden administration. The state’s leaders are committed to defending their policies and values while addressing the challenges posed by federal government actions.