The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit not only reverberated internationally but also sparked an unexpected echo in the United States. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and long-time critic of President Donald Trump, seized on the moment to target the White House.
Sharpening his attacks, Newsom shared a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the summit in Tianjin.
Posting the clip on X, Newsom wrote, “But have no fear, Trump is sending the Guard to Chicago.”
The jab was a pointed reference to Trump’s recent remarks about deploying National Guard troops to major US cities, including Chicago and New York, as part of his immigration crackdown, a move that has been fiercely criticised by Democrats.
Modi, Putin and Xi steal the show in Tianjin
The SCO Summit itself produced one of the most talked-about images in global politics. A video showed Modi and Putin walking hand in hand before joining Xi, with the three leaders laughing and standing shoulder to shoulder. At one point, Modi pulled Putin and Xi closer in a symbolic gesture of unity.
China used the summit to expand the SCO’s remit, with Xi announcing initial plans for a development bank, a cooperation platform for green and energy industries, and $1.4 billion in loans to member states over the next three years.
But have no fear, Trump is sending the Guard to Chicago. pic.twitter.com/yTK5Uhxkde
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 1, 2025
Newsom’s mockery of Trump
The post was not an isolated attack. In recent weeks, Newsom has repeatedly targeted Trump with satirical social media content, often mirroring Trump’s own online style.
On Instagram, he shared a montage set to Reba McEntire’s “I’m a Survivor”, showing Trump stumbling, flinching from a bald eagle, and fumbling through speeches. The video drew attention to bruises spotted on Trump’s hands, which the White House attributed to routine handshaking and aspirin use.
Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, but speculation about his health has persisted. His former physician, now Republican congressman Ronny Jackson, insisted last week that Trump remains “the healthiest president this nation has ever seen.”
Immigration crackdown and guard deployment
Newsom’s swipe came at a moment of heightened domestic tension. Since June, the Department of Homeland Security has reported 5,000 immigration arrests in Los Angeles alone. This has taken place despite a temporary court order prohibiting racial profiling, which the Trump administration is challenging at the Supreme Court.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently told CBS’s Face the Nation that enforcement operations in cities such as Chicago would intensify. She stopped short of confirming whether the National Guard would be deployed but acknowledged that the president was considering it.
The sparring between Newsom and Trump is increasingly being viewed through the prism of the 2028 presidential race. Newsom, who has long been seen as a likely Democratic candidate, is testing his national profile through confrontations with Trump. His playful, combative online style is winning attention from Democrats eager for a strong standard-bearer in the post-Biden era.
Trump, meanwhile, continues to dominate Republican politics but remains dogged by questions over his health and policy decisions. Newsom’s trolling strategy, combining satire, parody, and pointed critique, could foreshadow a future showdown on the national stage.
