Gavin Newsom

At a Thursday book‑tour stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said President Donald Trump is "in retreat" after firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, calling her ouster the "first firing of a high‑profile Cabinet member" and a sign of a weakening presidency. Newsom argued that the "dark heart of the administration is not Kristi Noem, it's Stephen Miller," labeling the White House deputy chief of staff the architect of Trump’s mass‑deportation agenda and saying Miller "needs to be next" to go. He tied his critique to Trump’s 2025 decision to send National Guard troops into California in response to immigration protests, claiming that move bore Noem’s fingerprints but followed Miller’s "handbook." The appearance, part of Newsom’s national tour for his book "Young Man in a Hurry," also highlighted record Democratic primary turnout in Texas this week, which he framed as evidence that Trump is "the leader of the get out the vote for the Democratic Party" ahead of the 2026 midterms. His swing through early primary states including South Carolina, Nevada and New Hampshire is fueling speculation about a 2028 presidential run as Democrats and Republicans alike parse what Noem’s removal means for Trump’s immigration strategy and inner circle.