LOS ANGELES – Amid the Trump administration’s confrontations with California, some are pondering if the Golden State could detach from the U.S. and form its own nation, ending a 175-year association with the country.

The concept of California as an independent nation isn’t new. The state flag refers to the brief period when California was a republic for just 25 days. Governor Gavin Newsom has, at times, referred to California as a “nation state.”

Michael Bryant, 56, shared his thoughts after his girlfriend’s Malibu home was lost to fire. He believes that the situation is pushing Californians apart from the rest of the country. “Given the current direction of the Trump administration, I think secession should be on the table,” he remarked during a walk on Venice Beach. “I’m not sure if that makes me un-American, but that’s how I feel.”

Increasing Tensions Between California and the Trump Administration

Recently, the ongoing clashes between President Trump and Governor Newsom, particularly over water issues, have intensified the friction between the federal and state governments.

Trump has claimed that while California has ample water for firefighting, it is instead used for environmental purposes. He asserted, “All they have to do is turn the valve,” referring to water flowing from the Pacific Northwest into California.

In an interview with Sean Hannity, Trump threatened to deny federal assistance to fire-stricken regions unless California revises its water management policies. “Until they allow water to flow, we shouldn’t give California anything,” he stated. Trump is scheduled to visit fire-affected areas in Los Angeles on Friday.

Bryant criticized Trump’s threats of withholding aid, calling them “repulsive.”

Newsom’s office countered that water reservoirs in Southern California are currently at record levels, and emphasized that the city’s outdated water infrastructure, rather than a lack of water, led to fire hydrants running dry during recent fires.

Often mocking Newsom by calling him “Newscum,” Trump and Newsom exchanged jabs on social media, with Newsom asserting, “Trump’s facts are the only things that smell fishy. California is utilizing as much water now as it did under previous Trump administration policies, and there’s no water deficit in Southern California.”

They’re not the only ones polarized; a YouGov survey from February discovered that 29% of Californians support the idea of secession. Interestingly, 31% of Texans share that sentiment as well.

With tensions escalating, is there a chance the expansive Golden State at the western edge of the U.S. could actually go solo?

Unlikely.

Nonetheless, discussions persist from various quarters about the possibility.

Is Secession an Option for California?

In short, no – California has no legal avenue to secede from the United States.

The current State Constitution’s Article III, Section 1 firmly states that California “is an inseparable part of the United States of America.” Furthermore, the U.S. Constitution lacks any provision allowing state secession, a fact underscored by the Civil War, which resulted in the loss of over 620,000 lives.

California’s State Constitution emphasizes that the U.S. Constitution is the highest law of the land, making secession impossible since the Constitution explicitly prohibits it.

As Andrew Torrance, co-author of the 2020 paper “Fault Lines: An Empirical Legal Study of California Secession,” noted, “It’s kind of like the song ‘Hotel California’ – you can check out anytime, but you can never leave.”

Has California Ever Attempted to Secede?

Just because it’s not feasible doesn’t mean there haven’t been attempts to secede from the Union, though the fact that the state is still accessible from Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona suggests no one has managed to do so successfully.

California was briefly an independent nation once, during the California Republic, which existed for just 25 days in 1846 when the region, then part of Mexico, sought independence. Situated in what is now Sonoma County, this unrecognized state was swiftly overthrown, and California became the 31st state of the United States in 1850. The current state flag, adopted in 1911, still bears the words “California Republic” alongside an image of a grizzly bear, harking back to the rebellion known as the “Bear Flag Revolt.”

Notably, California’s grizzly bears went extinct in the state in 1924, 78 years after that revolt.

In the last ten years, there have been at least three significant movements advocating for California’s independence, as detailed in the research by Torrance and Bill Tomlinson from the University of California, Irvine. These include the California National Party and Yes California, both established in 2015 to pursue self-determination and independence, along with the California Freedom Coalition formed in 2017 to push for “nonviolent actions to establish California as a separate nation through legal and constitutional means.”

Yes California ceased its activities on December 31, 2024, declaring its campaign had become more about personal ambitions rather than genuine political progress.

Interestingly, a survey conducted by Torrance and Tomlinson in 2020 showed that more Americans believed California should leave than California residents themselves thought so, but both groups remain in the minority.

California’s Global Significance

While it isn’t an independent nation, California holds considerable significance globally. There’s a reason Apple labels its products as “Designed by Apple in California, assembled in China.”

If California were to be viewed as a sovereign nation, its economy would rank fifth worldwide, trailing only the U.S., China, Germany, and Japan, despite being home to a population comparable to Canada. It accommodates one out of every eight Americans and contributes the most to the federal tax system.

California has long been more than just a state; it embodies an ideal, a place where extraordinary events unfold that might not happen elsewhere. When the Mamas & the Papas released their classic “California Dreamin'” in 1965, the whole nation resonated with it.

California is synonymous with the Gold Rush, Hollywood, Disneyland, and the Summer of Love.

It’s where innovation flourished: the transistor, computer, and Internet took root, sparking the future. It hosts many of the country’s leading tech giants, including Apple, Google (now Alphabet), Facebook (now Meta), Twitter (now X), and Tesla, along with companies like eBay, PayPal, Adobe, Square, Salesforce, Oracle, and Intel.

Furthermore, California’s open-minded culture made it a natural refuge for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in San Francisco’s Castro District, as well as a pivotal location for the entertainment industry (Hollywood).

California boasts the highest number of certified organic farms compared to any other state.

However, this ideal has somewhat deteriorated in recent years, as some businesses and individuals have chosen to leave the state.

Nonetheless, California continues to be a significant economic force, with a gross domestic product of $3.9 trillion, accounting for 14% of the entire U.S. economy. It is responsible for 9% of the country’s international goods exports, 17% of U.S. agricultural output, and 18% of the nation’s computer and electronics production, as reported by the Public Policy Institute of California.

While there may be frustrations among residents, deciding to leave the state is a substantial decision. The reasons and demographics of those wishing to depart can vary depending on the current decade and political climate. It’s important to remember that California was once known for its conservative ideologies.

California’s Conservative Background

During intense discussions between Trump and Newsom, it can be easy to forget that California has historically been home to both radical liberal views and some of the country’s fiercest conservatives.

“Ronald Reagan governed California years before he became President of the United States,” Torrance pointed out. “And Richard Nixon was there before him.”

The state also led the way in limiting the ability of legislatures to increase taxes. In 1978, a voter-driven initiative led to the overwhelming approval of Proposition 13, which drastically reduced property taxes and made it harder to impose any taxes.

This tax protest resonated across the nation and can be seen as a precursor to the conservative Tea Party movement.

Torrance believes California serves as a barometer for the future direction of America, regardless of political trends.

“California is a forerunner at both extremes of the political spectrum,” he explained. “It often leads in cultural trends, with changes originating there before spreading to the rest of the nation and the world.”

What if California were to leave the U.S.?

The result would be total chaos. Although it’s not a feasible scenario, merely imagining California’s secession from the United States leads to potential turmoil on both sides of the border.

The economic impact would be staggering.

In 2022, California contributed over $83 billion more in taxes than it received from the federal government, according to an analysis by the Rockefeller Institute of Government. This major financial contribution highlights the state’s vital role within the national economy.

Should such a crucial part of the nation’s economic structure be lost, it would be catastrophic, necessitating new trade agreements, treaties, and work permits. California has extensive borders with neighboring states and is home to two major rivers, the Colorado and Klamath, which are governed by contentious treaties. Additionally, the state produces more than a third of the country’s vegetables and over three-quarters of its fruits and nuts.

Maya Jones, a 24-year-old hairdresser from Palm Springs, celebrated her birthday at the Santa Monica Pier on Thursday.

Having heard Newsom discuss his plan to “Trump-proof” California, she acknowledges the possibility, but adds, “That seems like a wild idea for California to be its own country.”

Jones also expressed disbelief that Trump would deny aid to California, questioning whether people truly recognize the state’s contributions to the nation.

“I don’t think so,” Jones remarked. “I often hear people criticize California.”