Governor Gavin Newsom’s press conference took an unexpected turn on Wednesday when armed and masked Border Patrol agents arrived at the event, prompting the Governor’s Press Office to post a defiant statement on X (formerly Twitter), “BORDER PATROL HAS SHOWED UP AT OUR BIG BEAUTIFUL PRESS CONFERENCE! WE WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED!”
In the 18-second clip, several Border Patrol agents dressed in tactical gear, many with their faces covered, are seen standing near reporters and filming equipment. One agent walks past the camera while others converse with people on the scene. The footage quickly went viral, racking up over half a million views in just hours and igniting a wave of critical comments. Many users questioned the need for Border Patrol’s presence and the fact that many of the agents were masked.
One user asked, “How do you now these masked cowards are actually law enforcement???” Another defended the agents, writing, “They’re doing their job.” Some questioned why Border Patrol appeared so far from the border, “That doesn’t look like the border.”
Others mocked the situation, “Looks like they can’t find the border. Show them the way?” And one user went further, posting an illustrated political cartoon comparing masked agents to historical examples of oppressive regimes, captioning it, “That’s some fascist sh-t right there. Straight out of Hitler’s playbook. Ivana said Trump kept Hitler’s speeches on his nightstand.”
Why Newsom Was Speaking
The California governor had gathered alongside other prominent Democratic leaders to announce a partisan plan to redraw congressional maps, an effort aimed at helping Democrats flip five additional U.S. House seats in 2026. The move comes as a direct response to a Republican-led redistricting push in Texas, championed by President Donald Trump, designed to secure five more Republican House seats.
Texas Democrats have stalled that plan by leaving the state to block a vote, preventing their GOP colleagues from advancing Trump’s proposal. By contrast, Newsom and California Democrats are moving forward aggressively, framing the redistricting push as a counterpunch to GOP efforts.
