California Governor Gavin Newsom alleged Monday that President Donald Trump is behind a federal investigation targeting him and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, as retaliation for Newsom considering a presidential run in 2028. In a video message released on June 15, 2026, Newsom stated that federal agents have contacted family friends and former associates, not because a crime has been identified, but because they are actively searching for one.
'Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets; he’s coming after me because I am considering running for president,' Newsom said, adding that Trump resents his consistent criticism of the president's 'lies and deceit.' Newsom declared that he and his wife have joined Trump's 'hit list.' A spokesperson for the governor, Brandon Richards, referenced a fact sheet indicating that federal agents have subpoenaed records and conducted interviews spanning years of personal and professional activities involving the Newsoms. However, a source familiar with the matter countered Newsom's claims, stating that the investigations—one concerning Jennifer Siebel Newsom's taxes and another involving the governor's chief of staff—were initiated by federal agents in California approximately a year ago, and that the assertion Trump pushed for them is 'categorically false.' The White House and the Justice Department declined to comment.
Newsom and Trump have a history of public sparring, including over National Guard deployments and federal immigration actions in Southern California. Last year, Trump suggested that Newsom should be arrested.
This story is developing.