Why Does Donald Trump Seek Power at Any Cost?

TL;DR

Gavin Newsom argues that Donald Trump seeks power primarily to remain the center of attention, weaken restraints, enrich himself, and protect his influence. He warns that attacks on oversight, pressure on political institutions, military deployment in Los Angeles, and attempts to reshape electoral outcomes are tests of whether courts, states, and citizens can preserve democratic checks and the rule of law.

Transcript

Who does Trump care about? Himself. Period. Full stop. It's not complicated. He doesn't he doesn't care if he's the heel or the hero. As long as he's the star. It's I mean it's and that's just anyone that spent time with him. I spent time with as much or more than any Democrat certainly any Democratic governor in the country. Period. Full stop. I d... Read More

Key Insights

• Newsom’s central claim is that Trump cares primarily about himself and does not mind being portrayed as either a hero or villain, provided he remains the star. He interprets Trump’s political conduct as a continuing effort to command attention, influence, and personal power.
• Trump’s second-term behavior is described by Newsom as less restrained than his first-term conduct. Newsom says Trump now appears to feel free to say or do whatever he wants because congressional oversight, institutional resistance, and meaningful advice and consent have weakened.
• American checks and balances are described as being on life support. Newsom points to weakened congressional independence, dismissed inspectors general, pressure against political opponents, loyalists in influential positions, and recurring challenges to courts and the rule of law as evidence supporting his concern.
• Trump’s private and public behavior toward Newsom is described as sharply inconsistent. Newsom says Trump privately offered direct assistance and maintained cordial conversations, then publicly claimed to have reprimanded him and used insulting language, illustrating what Newsom considers a calculated political performance.
• The National Guard deployment in Los Angeles is presented as a test of presidential boundaries. Newsom says thousands of military personnel were sent into an American city largely for show, allowing the administration to study how courts, institutions, and the Constitution would respond.
• Electoral control is portrayed as an immediate source of democratic risk. Newsom says Trump contacted Texas legislators during a redistricting effort intended to gain five additional House seats, which Newsom interprets as an attempt to preserve power before the midterm elections.
• A third Trump term is considered possible but not probable by Newsom. He bases that assessment mainly on Trump’s age, while noting that Trump has joked about serving three or four terms and that people close to him sent Newsom a Trump 2028 hat.
• Personal enrichment is presented as another motive for maintaining political influence. Newsom alleges that Trump is monetizing crypto, consumer brands, campaign resources, and benefits connected to the presidency, potentially leaving office with extensive wealth and an incentive to install a supportive successor.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why does Gavin Newsom believe Trump wants political power?

Gavin Newsom believes Trump wants political power because he is primarily motivated by self-interest, attention, personal influence, and financial benefit. Newsom says Trump does not care whether he appears as the hero or the villain as long as he remains the central figure. He also argues that power allows Trump to pressure institutions, pursue opponents, promote loyalists, and monetize his presidency.

Q: How does Newsom say Trump has changed since his first term?

Newsom says Trump appears to feel far fewer limits during his second term than he did during his first. He describes a growing sense of megalomania and argues that weakened congressional oversight, loyal officials, and reduced institutional resistance have encouraged Trump to push legal and constitutional boundaries. Newsom believes each successful challenge expands the range of conduct Trump may attempt next.

Q: What happened during Newsom’s private conversations with Trump?

Newsom says his private conversations with Trump were consistently cordial, including a call shortly before the National Guard was federalized. According to Newsom, Trump provided a direct cell phone number and repeatedly invited him to call if he needed anything. Hours later, Trump publicly claimed he had reprimanded Newsom, which Newsom says never happened, and proceeded with the Guard action.

Q: Why does Newsom view the Los Angeles military deployment as dangerous?

Newsom views the deployment as dangerous because he says 5,000 military personnel were placed in the streets of Los Angeles, the only place Trump sent military forces during the period he discussed. He claims many personnel later remained in an armory with little to do. Newsom interprets the operation as a demonstration designed to test courts, constitutional limits, and future uses of presidential power.

Q: How does Newsom think Trump is weakening democratic oversight?

Newsom says Trump is weakening oversight by eliminating inspectors general and their auditing capacity, removing political opponents from influential roles, appointing loyalists, and pushing the boundaries of the rule of law. He also criticizes the Speaker of the House for abandoning the legislature’s role as a coequal branch. In his view, these actions leave courts and citizens as crucial remaining checks.

Q: Does Newsom think Trump will try to remain president in 2028?

Newsom says another attempt to remain in office is conceivable, but not probable on balance. His main reason is Trump’s age, contrasting the situation of a 79-year-old with that of a 69-year-old. Still, Newsom cites Trump’s jokes about serving three or four terms and a Trump 2028 hat sent by people close to him as signs that the idea is being tested publicly.

Q: How does Newsom connect redistricting to Trump’s effort to retain power?

Newsom says Trump contacted the Texas legislature while it was pursuing redistricting intended to produce five additional House seats before the midterms. He interprets this as an attempt to reshape the electoral landscape because Republicans might otherwise lose control of the House. Newsom fears that retaining the House could enable further voter suppression, institutional pressure, or threats involving martial law.

Q: What response does Newsom recommend to the democratic risks he describes?

Newsom argues that the response must begin immediately and cannot depend on a single presidential candidate arriving in 2028. He emphasizes the midterm elections, the rule of law, the courts, governors, states, and mayors. He also says the Democratic Party must acknowledge that voters chose Trump, improve its own performance, and organize before further institutional boundaries are tested.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Gavin Newsom portrays Donald Trump as motivated chiefly by self-interest and a desire to remain the central figure. He says Trump is less restrained than during his first term because congressional oversight has weakened, loyalists occupy influential positions, and repeated challenges to institutional limits have made the political environment more dangerous.

• Newsom contrasts Trump’s cordial private behavior with his hostile public messaging. He recalls receiving friendly offers of direct assistance before Trump publicly claimed to have confronted him and federalized the National Guard. Newsom interprets this contrast as political theater that creates conflict, commands attention, and tests the limits of presidential authority.

• Newsom says protecting democracy requires immediate action through courts, governors, states, mayors, and the midterm elections, rather than waiting for the 2028 presidential race. Although he considers another Trump term after 2028 unlikely because of Trump’s age, he believes continued institutional pressure and political resistance remain essential.