Gavin Newsom calls Trump a 'deranged, habitual liar whose relationship with reality ended years ago'

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA: California Governor Gavin Newsom lashed out at President Donald Trump on Wednesday, December 31, branding him a "deranged, habitual liar" for alleging there was massive fraud in his state.

The verbal barrage came after Trump slammed Newsom and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as "Crooked Governors" overseeing states drowning in fraud. 

Trump says there is 'more fraud' in California than Minnesota

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social and accused California and Minnesota of rampant fraud that he claimed outstrips anything seen before.

"There is more FRAUD in California than there is in Minnesota, if that is even possible. When you add in Election Fraud, then they are tied for first. Two Crooked Governors, two Crooked States!" Trump declared. 

He doubled down on Minnesota, linking the alleged scams to immigration issues and taking aim at Rep Ilhan Omar.

"Much of the Minnesota Fraud, up to 90%, is caused by people that came into our Country, illegally, from Somalia. ‘Congresswoman’ Omar, an ungrateful loser who only complains and never contributes, is one of the many scammers. Did she really marry her brother? Lowlifes like this can only be a liability to our Country’s greatness," Trump posted.

"Send them back from where they came, Somalia, perhaps the worst, and most corrupt, country on earth. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!" he added. 

His claims stem from recent reports of federal probes into welfare and childcare fraud in Minnesota, where officials are tracing a potential $9 billion money trail. 

Newsom's press office responds

Newsom's press office fired back on X, dismissing Trump's allegations as the ravings of a disconnected leader.

"Donald Trump is a deranged, habitual liar whose relationship with reality ended years ago," they wrote. "This is not complicated. He spends his days posting whatever garbage his shriveled little brain can cough up — and @FoxNews dutifully treats it like the Lord's scripture."

"Meanwhile — in the actual world where adults govern — @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom has been cleaning house. Since taking office, he’s blocked over $125 BILLION in fraud, arrested criminal parasites leaching off of taxpayers, and protected taxpayers from the exact kind of scam artists Trump celebrates, excuses, and pardons," the post continued.

"Gavin Newsom runs a state. Donald Trump runs his mouth and little fingers," it added.

The response was posted shortly after the White House reposted Trump's tirade on X with the caption, "Two Crooked Governors, two Crooked States!"

Tim Walz says Trump is politicizing the issue to 'defund programs that help Minnesotans'

Walz also weighed in on the controversy and accused Trump of politicizing serious issues for personal gain.

"This is Trump’s long game. We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It’s a serious issue — but this has been his plan all along. He’s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans," Walz said in an X post.

"While Minnesota has been combating fraud, the President has been letting fraudsters out of jail. Trump’s using an issue he doesn’t give a damn about as an excuse to hurt working Minnesotans," he added.

Walz's comments reference federal actions, such as freezing child care payments to Minnesota amid allegations that funds are being funneled to fraudulent daycares.