California Attorney General Xavier Becerra Xavier BecerraOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump casts doubt on climate change science during briefing on wildfires | Biden attacks Trump's climate record amid Western wildfires, lays out his plan | 20 states sue EPA over methane emissions standards rollback 20 states sue EPA over methane emissions standards rollback Investigation underway after bags of mail found dumped in Los Angeles-area parking lot MORE (D) said in response to a question about secession on Sunday that California will try to do everything it can to continue to be a leader in the U.S.

During an interview on "Fox News Sunday," Becerra was asked if he would be comfortable with a ballot initiative relating to secession.

Becerra said there are people in California who are frustrated with the Trump administration "constantly taking digs and hurting California."

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"California is the economic engine of the United States of America, we on our own, as a state, could be the sixth economic power in the world," he said.

"The U.S. needs California as much as I believe California needs to be part of the United States."

Becerra said California will do everything it can to be the "leading force" in the U.S., rather than "be out of it."

"I think we can continue to be the leader in it," he said.

His comments come after former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon warned California may try to secede from the U.S. in the next decade if Republicans don't attempt to reassume control of the state.

He pointed to the state's defiance of federal mandates including its protections for so-called sanctuary cities, which limit local cooperation with federal immigration agents.