Newsom Comes Under GOP Scrutiny Over Kristi Noem Social Media Post

California Gov. Gavin Newsom may be investigated after a weekend post that some Republicans interpreted as a threat to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

On Saturday morning, Newsom's press office wrote on X: "Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today. You're welcome, America."

Soon after, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced that he has called the Secret Service to investigate the message and perform a "full threat assessment."

“We have zero tolerance for direct or implicit threats against government officials,” Essayli wrote on X.

READ MORE: Federal Government Will 'Not Abide' By CA's Law Banning ICE From Wearing Masks

In response, Newsom's office made another post to clarify that the original tweet was referring to a suite of immigration-related bills that were being signed into law. One of those bills prohibits both state and federal agents from wearing masks on duty.

Still, Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin insisted, "This reads like a threat."

"This is ugly, @GavinNewsom," she wrote. "Your keyboard warrior team may hide behind their laptops and spew this kind of vitriol but you would never have the guts to say this to her face."

On Monday, McLaughlin released a statement on behalf of Homeland Security about the new California law banning officers and agents from covering their faces, insisting the federal government will not heed it.

"He signed this piece of legislation the same day his team made a menacing threat against Secretary Kristi Noem online," she wrote. "The violent rhetoric and demonization must stop. To be crystal clear: we will not abide by Newsom’s unconstitutional ban.”

Anthony Gugliemli, the Secret Service's Chief of Staff, told Patch that his office is "in receipt of the Department of Justice’s communication."

"To preserve operational integrity, we are not able to comment on specific protective intelligence matters. However, the Secret Service must vigorously investigate any situation or individual, regardless of position or status, that could pose or be perceived as posing a threat to any of our protectees. Especially in a politically charged climate, such as this,” Gugliemli said in an email.

Patch has reached out to Newsom's office.

The online discourse comes amid heightened tensions following the murder of Republican figure Charlie Kirk earlier this month.

"To make a threat like this, especially on the memorial weekend for Charlie, is beyond the pale and totally disgusting," wrote Steven Cheung, President Donald Trump's communications director. "This is what happens when Gavin Newsom lets deranged Leftist lunatics post messages on his behalf."

Over the past two weeks, since Kirk's death, the focus has been on Democrats and left-leaning groups.

During an emotional and tense exchange on the House floor last week, Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna started shouting at Democrats over Kirk's death.

"You f**king caused this,” Luna was heard shouting across the House chamber.