California Governor Gavin Newsom briefly backed down on his criticism of ICE as 'state sponsored terrorism' a week on from the death of mom-of-three Renee Good. Newsom spoke with Ben Shapiroon his podcast on Thursday, when he was asked to address comments made to his office's X account on the evening of Good's death on January 7. 'STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM.,' the post read. Shapiro countered 'that sort of thing makes our politics worse' during his sit-down with Newsom, arguing he also disagreed with the Trump administration's characterization of Good as a domestic terrorist. 'Our ICE officers are obviously not terrorists, a tragic situation is not state sponsored terrorism.' Newsom nodded along as Shapiro made his case. 'Yep,' he said. 'Yeah, yeah I think that's fair.'

Newsom's office vehemently denied the California governor had switched positions in a statement to Daily Mail on Thursday night. In an all-caps message, Deputy Director of Communications Diana Crofts-Pelayo argued 'everyday Americans are experiencing state sponsored terror by our incompetent president.' She went on to accuse the Daily Mail of 'trying to cancel us - very woke!' before ending the statement with Trump's signature sign off: 'Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Newsom has built up his national profile in part by adopting some of Trump's own brash social media tactics as he gears up for the next presidential race. He was one of a handful of high-profile Democrats to come out swinging against the Trump administration after Good was shot dead by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week. He said ICE 'has rampaged across America' over the past year. 'His administration has driven extremism and cruelty while discarding basic safeguards and accountability,' he wrote. 'Now, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen is dead. Donald Trump owns this. His deliberate escalation of intimidation and chaos has consequences. His reckless crackdown must end.'

Shapiro's Daily Wire categorized Newsom's comments on Thursday as 'walking back' his previous stance. Newsom also noted during the interview that he supports 'comprehensive immigration reform,' without delving too deeply into what that would entail. California is a 'sanctuary state' and many of its largest cities are 'sanctuary cities' - a point which Newsom said makes them inherently safer, not less safe as Trump has long argued. 'I think it’s important to establish, because it’s not well established, sanctuary jurisdictions have lower crime rates than non-sanctuary jurisdictions,' he said. 'So this notion that it somehow increases crime is also, I think, contradicted on the basis of the facts.'

Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin slammed Newsom back in September 2025 for 'fanning the flames of division, hatred and dehumanization of our law enforcement' for signing a 'No Secret Police Act' which barred certain federal and local law enforcement agencies from wearing face masks. 'At a time that ICE law enforcement faces a 1,000% increase in assaults and their family members are being doxxed and targeted, the sitting Governor of California signs unconstitutional legislation that strips law enforcement of protections in a disgusting, diabolical fundraising and PR stunt,' she said. 'He signed this piece of legislation the same day his team made a menacing threat against Secretary Kristi Noem online. 'The violent rhetoric and demonization must stop. To be crystal clear: we will not abide by Newsom's unconstitutional ban.'

Good, a 37-year-old mother-of-three, was shot three times in the face by ICE agent Jonathan Ross last week after she ignored demands to get out of her car, reversed it and tried to drive off during a protest. Witnesses said Good and her wife, Rebecca, were acting as legal observers and filming the protest. Almost immediately after the shooting, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem described Good's actions as 'an act of domestic terrorism' as she defended Ross as an experienced law enforcement professional who followed his training. She claimed he shot Good after he believed she was trying to run him or other agents over with her vehicle. Her death has sparked nationwide protests and calls for ICE agents to be pulled out of sanctuary cities.