As President Donald Trump takes office, California politicians express cautious optimism
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CALIFORNIA POLS REACT TO TRUMP BECOMING PRESIDENT
Via David Lightman and Andrew Sheeler...
What else is there to talk about today but the (GOP) elephant in the room? As of 9 a.m. Pacific Time Monday, Donald Trump became President of the United States.
Several prominent Californian politicians were in attendance at the Capitol for the swearing-in, including former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.
Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was there, and Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino, a member of the Democratic House leadership, helped lead colleagues into the Rotunda for the ceremony.
Aguilar was pardoned by President Joe Biden Monday morning along with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and other members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot.
Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, was at Monday’s events, but had a lot to say about it.
“I want to be clear,” he said. “I do not participate in this act of democracy to celebrate Donald Trump, the man who I hold personally responsible for breaking our streak of peaceful transitions,” he said. “I participate in recognition of the strength of our democracy for persevering through his attacks, and in honor of the great nation that has given me the chance to grow from a child immigrating to this country to becoming a representative in its government.”
Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, like most lawmakers Monday, struck a more conciliatory note.
“Rest assured, in the years ahead I plan to work with the President and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on issues where we can find common ground, and to stand against policies and rhetoric that harm the American people,” he said.
Among those not in attendance was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco.
“For the sake of our country, we always listen with optimism to the Inaugural address of a new President,” she said in a statement. ”As we heard the President listing the many items on his agenda, what he didn’t mention was his promised tax cuts for the rich.
Schiff, who also attended the inaugural ceremonies, released his own statement, voicing hope that Trump will work across the aisle to address the nation’s problems.
“There are many challenges facing our country, and we must find a way to tackle them. I am ready to partner with my Republican colleagues on any issue where we can find common ground,” he said.
Among the issues that Schiff listed as ones where he could see bipartisan consensus were growing jobs, building more housing, addressing crime, fixing the economy and helping Southern California rebuild from the devastating wildfires.
“I am clear-eyed about the challenges we may face. Our differences can feel extreme at times. And California, I will never back down when our rights are threatened, our values are under attack, or our communities are demonized,” Schiff said.
Stateside, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, too, was conciliatory on Monday, taking a break from pursuing a special session to “Trump-proof” the state to say he looks forward to Trump’s planned Friday visit to Los Angeles to survey the wildfire damage.
“I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild,” Newsom said in a statement. “Where our shared principles are aligned, my administration stands ready to work with the Trump-Vance administration to deliver solutions and serve the nearly 40 million Californians we jointly represent.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Today, we mourn the passing of an indomitable healthcare and civil rights champion. A lifelong, self-proclaimed ‘troublemaker,’ Cecile Richards let no injustice go unchallenged. Unwilling to walk away from a righteous fight — no matter how impossible or controversial it may have seemed — Cecile reshaped politics and governance as we know it. She made protecting and expanding women’s rights a permanent part of the national conversation and stood up for reproductive freedom when the fight seemed most bleak.”
- Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, in a statement responding to news of the death of former Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards.
Best of The Bee:
California’s Adam Schiff gets a last-minute pardon from President Joe Biden, via David Lightman.
Undocumented Californians brace for Trump’s second term. Recent deportations increase fear, via Mathew Miranda.
Trump is president again. Five actions he can take that could impact California, via David Lightman.
Donald Trump will visit Los Angeles this week to see devastation of wildfires, via Lia Russell.
Hundreds march through downtown Sacramento to protest incoming Trump administration, via Darrell Smith.
California budget experts say Gavin Newsom’s spending plan doesn’t go far enough, via Lia Russell.
This story was originally published January 21, 2025 at 4:55 AM with the headline "As President Donald Trump takes office, California politicians express cautious optimism."