President Donald Trump is heading to Los Angeles on Tuesday night principally for a Republican National Committee fundraiser, but the White House made clear Monday he's coming with his sights on Gov. Gavin Newsom, considered among the top likely Democratic candidates in 2028.

“The president will draw a sharp contrast between his commonsense agenda and the radical policies of Democrats like Gavin Newsom, who keep raising taxes, inviting rampant fraud in taxpayer-funded programs, and protecting illegal immigrant drug dealers, rapists, and murderers,” White House spokesperson Olivia Wales told the Los Angeles Times. 

She also said the president will "tout his wins for the people of the Golden State despite failed Democrat leadership." 

The RNC event at Trump National Golf Club is part of a two-day western swing in which Trump will also headline an event Wednesday in Las Vegas.

Newsom, who leaves office in November due to term limits, is considered a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination for president in 2028, though he has so far not formally declared his candidacy. 

The governor has not commented on Trump's trip, but has recently criticized the Trump administration for not raising the federal minimum wage and a reported increase in prices for some common items.

"California is raising the minimum wage to $17.40 an hour next year – more than DOUBLE the federal minimum wage," he posted on X. "Donald Trump and the GOP are still defending a $7.25 minimum wage while workers scrape by. Pitiful."

Trump's visit will mark his second trip to Los Angeles since returning to office last year. The first trip was in January 2025 after two major wildfires raged through Pacific Palisades and Altadena, California.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.