Trump's political warfare spills over to family, as he targets California Governor Newsom, aiming to extinguish his 2028 presidential ambitions prematurely

With two years still left until the next election, Trump has already begun his moves. Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom stepped forward to accuse Trump of singling him out, claiming that Trump has instructed the Department of Justice to launch investigations into both himself and his wife.

Newsom stated that the Trump administration is now abusing grand jury procedures, digging through scattered documents from recent years, solely in an attempt to find flaws in my record so that I can be barred from running for president in 2028.

Newsom further accused that it’s not just him—his wife has also been added to Trump’s “target list.” Investigators are repeatedly visiting his family members, friends, and even former employees, not because any criminal activity has been discovered, but simply to fabricate charges. Faced with this situation, Newsom declared that Trump’s government has clearly crossed a line.

The rift between Newsom and Trump has long been open and public. California, a Democratic stronghold and the world’s fifth-largest economy, has repeatedly clashed with Trump on immigration policy, National Guard deployments, and tariff issues. Now, their conflict has fully escalated into open hostility.

Yet in American politics, there’s usually an unspoken boundary: attacks typically focus on the politician themselves. But this time, Trump’s investigation goes far beyond—scrutinizing Newsom’s wife’s business background, and even probing her relatives and associates. The intensity of this political fight is unprecedented, bordering on ruthless—precisely why Newsom can no longer tolerate it.

For Trump, his strategic goal is actually quite clear.

Newsom is currently the top Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential election, consistently ranking among the top tier in polls. Trump’s objective is to completely undermine Newsom’s reputation before the election, weaken the Democrats’ competitiveness in the next race, and seize a decisive advantage heading into the 2028 presidential contest.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1868144564249603/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.