In November 2016, though shocked by Donald Trump’s unexpected victory, many pundits predicted that as president-elect, Trump would moderate and drop many of his extreme views. For the most part, that didn’t happen. But the same hope recurred after Trump’s less shocking win on Nov. 5, especially following his selection of veteran Florida political operative Susie Wiles — a pragmatist, not a bomb-thrower — as chief of staff.
Alas, little else has been reassuring, and California’s elected leaders must take seriously Trump’s warnings about his intentions. The list of big issues where a hostile White House could cause severe headaches only starts with many complex state policies related to the climate emergency and the provision of $5.2 billion in federal disaster relief the state is counting on.
At the least, the next EPA chief is sure to fight California’s pursuit of eight waivers from federal rules that would allow it to phase out fossil fuel-burning vehicles and trains. Just-approved state Proposition 35 — which would dedicate large chunks of federal health funding to shore up state safety-net programs — is at risk. The law can’t take effect without federal approval, which Trump may condition on state concessions.
But this effort to protect state priorities must not devolve into an extension of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s inevitable 2028 presidential campaign. His decision to call a special Trump-focused session of the Legislature next month — at the same time lawmakers will already be in session — was widely knocked as a look-at-me, substance-free publicity stunt. Such grandstanding may boost the governor’s profile. But does it help his constituents?
The better way for Newsom to help his White House chances is to do a better job running the state — especially keeping in check the ever-escalating cost of living. For 14 years, people have been much more likely to move out of California than to move here. This stark confirmation of the Golden State’s fading appeal can’t be blamed on Donald Trump.
