Recent reports indicate that the Trump administration is considering whether to cut funding to California if the far-left state doesn’t back off from some of its most controversial policies.

But instead of addressing the unpopularity of his own agenda, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom reacted like a petulant child by teasing a statewide tax rebellion against D.C.

Californians pay the bills for the federal government.

We pay over $80 BILLION more in taxes than we get back.

Maybe it’s time to cut that off, @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/lwFHFSgSyJ

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 6, 2025

While he doesn’t seem to have much legal precedent to stand on, Breitbart pointed to one historical parallel that Newsom and his fellow leftists might not want to be associated with:

It is not clear what constitutional authority Newsom has to withhold federal taxes on behalf of individuals, businesses, and other entities within the state. Trump’s authority to withhold funding is far clearer.

A tax revolt by California would recall the “nullification” doctrine popular in some Southern states before the Civil War. It could also trigger a tax revolt by Californians against their own state taxes, which are very high.

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Trump’s latest critique of the Golden State’s politics has been a popular topic of social media discussion recently:

#BREAKING: President Trump is preparing LARGE SCALE cuts to federal funding to California due to their flat out refusal to follow executive orders

Another MASSIVE LOSS for Gavin Newscum

Agencies have been directed to identify grants the admin can withhold immediately, and… pic.twitter.com/jN2pE98tXR

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 6, 2025

Gavin Newsom is about to enter the Find Out phase

The Trump administration is preparing to cancel a large swath of federal funding for California. pic.twitter.com/yTPcy5W3tF

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) June 6, 2025

LATEST: A trans athlete in CA is the favorite to win 2 state titles this week in track and field. President Trump is now threatening to withhold federal funding if California law enforcement doesn’t stop the athlete from competing pic.twitter.com/vYW6tQgQqH

— Matthew Seedorff (@MattSeedorff) May 28, 2025

Politico covered the White House’s response to Newsom’s recent taunt:

White House spokesperson Kush Desai, asked to comment on Newsom’s post, threw cold water on mass funding cuts but blasted California for what he said were “lunatic anti-energy, soft-on-crime, pro-child mutilation, and pro-sanctuary policies.”

“The Trump administration is committed to ending this nightmare and restoring the California Dream,” Desai said in a statement. “No final decisions, however, on any potential future action by the Administration have been made, and any discussion suggesting otherwise should be considered pure speculation.”

Trump has wielded federal funding as leverage to push its politics on California before. The president last month threatened to choke off the state’s cash flow if a transgender athlete participated in a state girls’ track meet.

Newsom’s biting suggestion comes as the governor escalates his anti-Trump rhetoric, even as he asks the White House for economic assistance. Newsom in early May blamed tariffs for ripping $16 billion from California’s state budget, but has at the same time sought federal disaster relief for the recent Los Angeles wildfires and privately consulted Trump officials about ways to bolster the state’s flagging film industry.

Here’s some additional coverage of the dispute:

This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport.

View the original article here.