California Gov. Gavin Newsom Responds To Trump’s Tweet About State’s Plan For High-Speed Rail: “Fake News”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) fired back at a tweet from President Donald Trump on Wednesday evening about the state’s infrastructure plans by using one of the latter’s most repeated phrases: “Fake news.”

The Twitter feud started after Trump ordered California to reimburse the federal government billions after Newsom revealed on Tuesday plans to downsize the state’s effort to build the U.S.’s first high-speed rail train. Trump claimed the state was “forced to cancel” the project.

“California has been forced to cancel the massive bullet train project after having spent and wasted many billions of dollars,” Trump wrote. “They owe the Federal Government three and a half billion dollars. We want that money back now. Whole project is a “green” disaster!”

Within the hour, Newsom responded by tweeting: “Fake news. We’re building high-speed rail, connecting the Central Valley and beyond. This is CA’s money, allocated by Congress for this project. We’re not giving it back.”

The governor also mocked Trump for his insistence on demanding funding for a southern border wall to curb illegal immigration.

“The train is leaving the station — better get on board! (Also, desperately searching for some wall $$??),” Newsom added in his tweet.

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On Monday, lawmakers reached a bipartisan deal that includes allotting $1.375 billion in fencing for the U.S.-Mexico border wall and which would avert another government shutdown. Trump said he was “not happy” with the compromise agreement but has yet to officially specify if he’ll sign or veto it.

California’s planned high-speed rail line reportedly thus far covers a 119-mile stretch in Central Valley between Bakersfield and Merced. Newsom stressed he is confident the project will help grow the region’s economy in the coming years.

Trump has blasted California and Newsom multiple times before. Late last year, the president threatened in a tweet to stop funding the state until it improved what he viewed as weak forest management while wildfires ravaged many parts of California.

Newsom delivered a speech Tuesday in which he blasted the White House’s decision to send thousands of National Guard troops to the southern border to combat illegal immigration. The governor accused Trump of devising a “manufactured crisis” and added California refused to become involved in the “political theater” the president created.

Article by Pablo Mena

Writer for uPolitics.com. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

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