California Gov. Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of ‘the acts of a dictator’ for deploying National Guard troops to quell violent protests in Los Angeles.

Newsom posted to socia media a video of Trump saying he would charge state and local officials federally if they interfere with the immigration enforcement that sparked the protests June 6, 7 and 8.

Gavin accused Trump of “inciting and provoking violence,” “creating mass chaos” and “militarizing cities.”

“These are the acts of a dictator, not a President,” Newsom said.

The two men have long been at odds. Trump said on social media June 7 that federal authorities needed to step in because of the inaction of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom, who Trump has nicknamed.

"If Governor Gavin Newscum, of California, and Mayor Karen Bass, of Los Angeles, can’t do their jobs, which everyone knows they can’t, then the Federal Government will step in and solve the problem, RIOTS & LOOTERS, the way it should be solved!!!" Trump said in the post.

The two have repeatedly clashed, most recently in late May, when Trump threatened to cut California's federal funding after a transgender high school athlete qualified for the state championship.

"Large scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently," Trump said at the time, if California fails to follow an executive order he signed Feb. 5 seeking to bar transgender student athletes from playing women’s sports.

Newsom, a Democrat with presidential aspirations, has also sparred with Trump over tariffs, fighting fires and the management of water and environmental resources, though he has also criticized his own party.

Trump, his border czar Tom Homan and other federal officials have said they would charge anyone who interfered with the immigration operation. But Newsom dared Homan to arrest him for speaking out against the federal intervention.

“Trump’s border czar is threatening to arrest me for speaking out. Come and get me, tough guy,” Gavin said on social media. “I don't give a damn. It won’t stop me from standing up for California.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California gov describes Trump's deployment of National Guard as 'the acts of a dictator'

Reporting by Bart Jansen, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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