President Donald Trump made a rare visit to California Tuesday to speak at a Republican National Committee event at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Air Force One touched down at Los Angeles International Airport around 4:30 p.m. A short time later, Trump exited the plane and walked to the awaiting Marine One helicopter, which carried him to the golf club — avoiding any major traffic disruptions that a traditional motorcade would require.
According to the White House, Trump’s speech Tuesday night will focus on his administration’s work on improving the economy and reducing crime. The president’s remarks are also likely to target one of his most vocal opponents — California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“President Trump will visit California on Tuesday to tout his wins for the people of the Golden State despite failed Democrat leadership: the largest middle-class tax cut ever, the most secure border in American history, and a plummeting crime rate,” White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales told the California Post, which first reported the visit.
“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,” Wales said.
Newsom, who is weighing a possible run for the presidency, is a vocal critic of Trump, regularly attacking the president and the administration on social media.
On Monday, Newsom attacked the administration on the issue of wages.
“California is raising the minimum wage to $17.40 an hour next year — more than DOUBLE the federal minimum wage,” Newsom wrote. “Donald Trump and the GOP are still defending a $7.25 minimum wage while workers scrape by. Pitiful.”
Just hours before Trump arrived in the Southland, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department announced the Sunday arrest of a man who was seen taking photos and videos at Trump National Golf Club, and appeared to be monitoring security-preparations at the club. When he was detained, he was found to be carrying a magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition, and a loaded weapon was found in his car.
A subsequent search of his Downey home turned up various weapons and ammunition, along with notebooks that contained unspecified “concerning statements.” It was unclear if any of the statements included threats targeting Trump.
Trump is scheduled to leave the Southland Tuesday night en route to Las Vegas, where he is scheduled to speak Wednesday afternoon at Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, with his remarks mainly focusing on the economy and tax relief.
Trump’s last official visit to California was in January 2025, when he toured areas devastated by the Palisades Fire and held a roundtable discussion with local elected officials, including Mayor Karen Bass.