California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna is living in an alternate reality, folks. During Tuesday's CNBC "Squawk Box" appearance, this Silicon Valley socialist had the audacity to claim that President Trump's tariffs and immigration restrictions—not California's sky-high taxes—are what's really driving people and businesses out of the Golden State.
Think about that for a second. California has some of the highest income taxes, property taxes, and business taxes in the nation. Companies and families have been fleeing to Texas, Florida, and other red states for years. But according to Khanna, it's Trump's fault?
"The ultimate thing that's hurting California is the fact that we're restricting immigration from the best and brightest to come into" the state, Khanna claimed while defending his proposed billionaire tax—because nothing says "business friendly" like taxing successful people even more!
This is the same party that destroyed San Francisco with homeless encampments, turned Los Angeles into a third-world nightmare, and made it nearly impossible for middle-class families to afford housing.
Here's what Khanna conveniently ignores: Trump's tariffs are designed to protect American workers and bring manufacturing back to the United States. His immigration policies prioritize legal immigration and border security—revolutionary concepts, apparently, for California Democrats who prefer open borders and sanctuary cities.
The Real California Crisis
Meanwhile, California continues hemorrhaging population and tax revenue thanks to decades of progressive mismanagement. High-earners are taking their money and running, leaving behind a state addicted to big government spending and woke virtue signaling.
Khanna's blame game is classic Democrat deflection. Instead of admitting their policies have failed, they point fingers at Trump's successful America First agenda. The irony? States following Trump-style policies are the ones prospering while California crumbles.
Patriots, this is what happens when politicians lose touch with reality. Khanna would rather double down on failed progressive policies than admit the obvious: California's problems are homegrown, and the solution isn't more taxes or open borders—it's getting government out of the way and letting freedom work.