First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom Escalates ICE Attacks as Governor Backpedals on His Podcast

California’s First Couple continues to lead the Democrat party’s charge against federal immigration enforcement, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom gaslighting and targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations amid escalating violence in Minneapolis.

Jennifer Siebel Newsom parroted Democrat talking points in a statement on Thursday, accusing President Donald Trump of deliberately “inciting violence” by increasing ICE operations in Minneapolis and nationwide:

“Trump continues to incite violence whenever it serves him. As ICE operations in Minneapolis, across the country, and even here in our own state unfold with increasing force, I am disturbed by the physical power used against innocent people—especially our communities of color and those exercising their right to peacefully protest. This violence is not random, it is intentional—meant to unsettle, to exhaust, and to intimidate. None of this can be normalized.”

She then carelessly remarks that a majority of ICE agents are “untrained and unqualified” in this “unprecedented attack on our democracy,” and throws in “authoritarian overreach” on cue.

What’s happening in Minneapolis is sickening and cannot be normalized. My statement below ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/om4YB9l9ag

— Jennifer Siebel Newsom (@JenSiebelNewsom) January 16, 2026

Despite her recycled rhetoric, her husband appeared to moderate his tone during a Thursday appearance on his podcast “This is Gavin Newsom” with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro.

When Shapiro challenged the “state-sponsored terrorism” label emanating from Newsom’s own press office, the governor responded: “Yeah, I think that’s fair,” and agreed that such language “makes our politics worse.” (His partner must have missed the podcast).

.@GavinNewsom WALKS BACK calling ICE operations "state-sponsored terrorism":

Shapiro: Your press office said it was "state-sponsored terrorism."

Newsom: "Yeah…"

Shapiro: "Our ICE officers obviously are not terrorists…"

Newsom: "Yeah, I think that's fair." pic.twitter.com/ltjehS6ZVJ

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) January 16, 2026

Gov. Newsom went further, stating he “disagrees” with calls to abolish ICE and highlighting California’s cooperation with the agency on thousands of transfers from state prisons—claims that contrast sharply with his earlier attacks.

Yet, Newsom’s office quickly issued an all-caps rebuttal to the Daily Mail—“everyday Americans are experiencing state sponsored terror by our incompetent president.”

On Thursday, Governor Newsom’s partner and his press office chose to “make our politics worse.” After this communications fustercluck, the podcast should be renamed “Who is Gavin Newsom?”

Despite the governor’s backpedaling,  Siebel Newsom’s ill-timed remarks closely mirror Gov. Newsom’s longstanding campaign against ICE.

Since signing the “No Secret Police Act” (SB 627) in 2025—which prohibits federal officers from wearing masks during operations—Newsom has branded ICE agents “secret police,” compared their tactics to the “Gestapo,” accused them of running a “terror campaign,” and claimed the Trump administration is using American cities as “training grounds for the United States military.”

Following the shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, who defied lawful orders and used her vehicle as a weapon against federal law enforcement resulting in her death, Newsom’s official X account posted “STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM.” while his personal account stated: “For almost a year, Donald Trump’s personal police force has rampaged across America… Now, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen is dead. Donald Trump owns this. His deliberate escalation of intimidation and chaos has consequences. His reckless crackdown must end.”

STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM.

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 8, 2026

The White House has documented “57 Times Sick, Unhinged Democrats Declared War on Law Enforcement,” prominently featuring Newsom’s repeated use of terms like “secret police” and “authoritarian.” DHS officials and federal prosecutors have directly linked such language to a reported 1,300 percent surge in assaults on ICE officers since 2024, including doxxing of agents’ families, Molotov cocktails hurled at federal buildings, and physical attacks during protests in Los Angeles and other sanctuary jurisdictions run into the ground by its Democrat overlords.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli responded immediately to Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s statement, referring to the Democrat-sponsored violence against law enforcement as an “insurrection:”

“Enforcing immigration law is not ‘inciting violence.’ It’s the executive branch’s duty. Assault and obstruction of law enforcement cannot be normalized. We will put down this insurrection in Minnesota, just as we did in Los Angeles.”

Enforcing immigration law is not “inciting violence.” It’s the executive branch’s duty. Assault and obstruction of law enforcement cannot be normalized. We will put down this insurrection in Minnesota, just as we did in Los Angeles. https://t.co/Cwip3JIVws

— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) January 16, 2026

Essayli’s reply referenced recent DOJ prosecutions in Los Angeles, where federal charges were filed against individuals for assaulting ICE agents, towing federal vehicles, and throwing incendiary devices at government buildings. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche reinforced the message, labeling the Minneapolis protests “terrorism” encouraged by Democratic leaders like Walz and Frey, and vowing to stop them “by whatever means necessary.”

ICE operates in thousands of counties without incident. Men and women doing their jobs, protecting us from criminal aliens.

Minnesota insurrection is a direct result of a FAILED governor and a TERRIBLE mayor encouraging violence against law enforcement. It’s disgusting.

Walz… https://t.co/govuUtcDVN

— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) January 15, 2026

The three men arrested and accused of ambushing the federal agent in Minneapolis were later identified as illegal aliens from Venezuela.

President Trump has signaled invoking the Insurrection Act to quell the Minnesota mayhem, posting on Truth Social on Thursday: “If the corrupt politicians of Minnesota don’t obey the law and stop the professional agitators and insurrectionists from attacking the Patriots of I.C.E., who are only trying to do their job, I will institute the INSURRECTION ACT, which many Presidents have done before me, and quickly put an end to the travesty that is taking place in that once great State.”

The Insurrection Act would allow the president to deploy active-duty military forces domestically to suppress what he describes as rebellion or insurrection, without needing state approval—a move Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has vowed to challenge in court if pursued.