Gavin Newsom accuses Trump of directing Justice Department to investigate him

California ⁠Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday accused US President Donald Trump of directing the Justice Department to undertake a politically motivated investigation of him and his wife.

“Donald Trump isn’t just coming after me because of my mean tweets,” Newsom said in a ‌video statement posted to social media.

“He’s coming after me because I am considering running for president.”

Federal police officers in Sacramento, California, have been conducting several investigations related to the governor, including into his wife, since 2025, a person familiar with the matter said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly. The person added that the investigations did not originate in Washington but in California.

Newsom is frequently cited as a top contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Term-limited in his current role, Newsom has ramped up his national profile, visited early primary states and has said he would “be lying” if he said he was not considering a White House run.

The investigation ⁠into the governor’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is related to her taxes, the person familiar with the matter said. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it ‌related to a charity co-founded by Siebel Newsom that promotes gender equity.