Could California Actually Go Rogue?
When has the land of fruits and nuts not been 'rogue'? And who would actually miss them?
California has always been somewhat separate from the rest of the United States. Proudly independent, the state is continuing this tradition with its recent opposition to President Donald Trump’s newly imposed tariffs. On April 15, 2025, Governor Gavin Newson announced California as the first state to sue President Donald Trump over the new tariffs.
As the fifth largest economy in the world, California is home to diverse industries ranging from agriculture to the technology of Silicon Valley, leaving the state likely to lose billions due to the new tariffs. Governor Newsom argues that the tariffs are “unlawful” and are “wreaking chaos” on the state’s families, businesses, and overall economy. He also contends that President Trump acted illegally, as Congress, not the President, holds the final approval for such tariffs.
Right now, California is fighting against the president of the United States for its rights as a state, but what if it took its independent streak to the extreme and became its own country, separate from the United States? Hopefully, that never happens, but if it did, California would likely stand as an important global power on its own. Here is a possible picture of what the “Republic of California” might look like…