California Gov. Gavin Newsom once again found himself at the center of political outrage this week after remarks about taxing potential payments tied to President Donald Trump’s proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund” ignited fierce backlash from conservatives.
During a Wednesday press conference, Newsom floated the idea that California could impose a 100% state tax on any money state residents might receive from the fund, which supporters describe as compensation for Americans allegedly targeted by federal agencies during the Biden administration.
“Anyone from California that receives any of those funds, we want to tax 100% of those proceeds,” Newsom said. “That's an action the state of California can take; it's an action we look forward to taking.”
The comments immediately exploded online, with critics accusing Newsom of openly advocating government confiscation for political reasons. Supporters of Trump argued the California governor was effectively threatening residents simply because they aligned with conservatives or had been swept up in politically charged investigations.
If you get a payout from Trump’s January 6 slush fund, California will tax it at 100%.
People who assault cops and overthrow democracy don’t deserve a taxpayer-funded payday. pic.twitter.com/GIy6wANJkK
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 27, 2026
The proposed Anti-Weaponization Fund itself has become a flashpoint in the larger battle over claims of political targeting during the Biden years. According to Trump allies, the initiative emerged from a settlement connected to litigation involving the IRS and the release of Trump’s tax information. Trump has described the effort as a way to compensate Americans he says were unfairly investigated, prosecuted, or harassed by federal agencies.
Among those frequently cited by conservatives are January 6 defendants, pro-life activists charged under federal laws tied to abortion clinic protests, parents investigated after confrontations at school board meetings, and religious organizations allegedly scrutinized by federal authorities.
Trump recently defended the idea publicly, arguing that he could have pursued significant personal financial compensation but instead supported broader restitution efforts.
“I gave up a lot of money in allowing the just announced Anti-Weaponization Fund to go forward,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Instead, I am helping others, who were so badly abused by an evil, corrupt, and weaponized Biden Administration, receive, at long last, JUSTICE!”
Any American—Democrat, Republican, Independent or apolitical—can file claims with the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which are then reviewed by a committee of five.
The fund was established as a result of the IRS illegally leaking the tax returns of the Trump family and around 100… https://t.co/6QS6Op6Eas
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 20, 2026
Newsom’s comments only intensified conservative claims that Democrat-led states remain openly hostile toward Trump supporters. Critics pointed out that a 100% tax would function less like ordinary taxation and more like outright confiscation.
And California is not alone.
In New York, Democrat Assemblyman Alex Bores echoed similar sentiments online, saying the state should aggressively tax recipients connected to the fund.
“It’s simple, if you’re a New Yorker and you take from this illegal slush fund, New York state will tax 100% of it,” Bores posted on X.
I just introduced the Anti-Insurrectionist Act in NY. It's simple: If you're a New Yorker who takes from Trump's illegal January 6th slush fund, NY will tax 100% of it. pic.twitter.com/9vg5EKPybZ
— Alex Bores (@AlexBores) May 26, 2026
That rhetoric has only deepened partisan divisions surrounding the broader issue of political prosecutions and government power. Conservatives have spent years arguing that federal law enforcement agencies were increasingly used as political weapons during Biden’s presidency, while Democrats have defended the investigations as legitimate responses to criminal conduct and threats to democratic institutions.
Still, for many Americans watching the latest exchange, the optics are difficult to ignore. A governor of the nation’s largest blue state publicly discussing ways to seize every dollar tied to a politically controversial compensation program is the kind of headline that practically writes itself.
And for Gavin Newsom, who continues positioning himself as a leading national Democrat, moments like this are unlikely to calm concerns among critics who already view California as ground zero for hyper-partisan governance.