Newsom is trying to navigate choppy political waters, according to strategists from both parties. As the governor of California, a deep-blue Democratic state that Trump has gleefully caricatured at every opportunity, Newsom could struggle to appeal to swing voters as a national candidate without moderating his image.

Newsom and other California leaders, including Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles, accused the president of fanning the flames and needlessly escalating matters rather than calming them. This morning, the state announced plans to sue Trump for his deployment of the Guard.

The spectacular breakup of Donald Trump and Elon Musk could soon get far worse for the Tesla CEO—while doing little good for the U.S. president. Some political pundits have portrayed last week’s blowup as merely yet another exit by a disgruntled Trump ally.