COLFAX — Gov. Gavin Newsom said he spoke to President Donald Trump on Tuesday — the same day he signed a confrontational bill aimed at forcing the president to release his tax returns — and insisted he is maintaining a line of communication with the White House.
Newsom, appearing at a wildfire-related press conference, would not disclose the specifics of their conversation. But the Democratic governor said he and Trump are "continuing to try to work collaboratively together" — a necessary partnership with Washington on mass shootings, natural disasters and infrastructure development.
Newsom continued to defend the bill requiring presidential candidates to release their tax returns if they want to appear on California primary ballots.
Standing alongside state officials while announcing a surge in firefighting capacity, Newsom said the tax return bill provides much-needed transparency. California politicians, including Newsom, are also subject to CA SB27 (19R).
"It's not a swipe," the governor said. "I'm more than happy to provide you that [tax] information; I think you need it. I've got a lot of business interests; I've got a property up here."
"You have a right to know that," Newsom continued. "I think the public should know that, and if it's good enough for a governor, it's certainly something we should expect as we have since 1973 from a president and presidential candidates."
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow immediately signaled Tuesday that the president would fight the new law in court, calling it an "attempt to circumvent the Constitution."
The governor said his continuing call for the federal government to give California more assistance with firefighting and forest management is not jeopardized by the tax returns law.
Newsom said that California continues to have a relationship with the White House despite the state's numerous lawsuits against the Trump administration. California's deal last week with four automakers on tailpipe standards is much more of a "deep rebuke on a major issue" compared to the tax returns law, he argued.
"Know that we're continuing to engage, which is important," Newsom said. "Always maintaining a relationship."
Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine
