Gavin Newsom calls Trump ‘most destructive president’ as he warns US is at ‘real risk’

WASHINGTON, DC: The feud between Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump is heating up again. California Governor Newsom, a longtime critic of the president, blasted Trump as “one of the most destructive presidents" in his lifetime. 

His latest jab came after he mocked Trump with an AI-generated video portraying Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller crying while handcuffed.

Gavin Newsom criticizes Trump

Gavin Newsom, on Wednesday, December 10, criticized Trump as the nation’s “most destructive” president during an interview on New York Times columnist Ezra Klein’s podcast. 

“I think Trump is one of the most destructive presidents and human beings in my lifetime,” Newsom said. “I think this republic is at real risk, this country being unrecognizable. And I have no patience for people that want to indulge it.”

Newsom voiced frustration with financial, educational, and political institutions that he believes have shown deference to Trump. “I can’t stand the crony capitalism,” he said.

He continued, “I can’t stand the universities have done that, the law firms that have done that, individual corporate leaders that have done that, other governors, maybe Democrats and Republicans, that have been complicit at this moment.”

Calling Trump “reckless,” Newsom warned Klein that the country will not have “we’ll not have a fair and free election if we don’t continue to fight. I’m the future ex-governor."

Newsom questioned, "Who the hell knows what happens the rest of my life? Except one thing I know that matters in the rest of my life is I have to look at my kids in the goddamn eye. I mean that seriously."

Gavin Newsom continues to mock Trump using AI

Newsom intensified his attacks after the president returned to the White House, using social media to mock Trump and imitate his online style.

Newsom said he had become less worried about Trump seeking a third term, even though the Constitution limits presidents to two. 

In an interview on ‘The Jack Cocchiarella Show,’ he said Trump’s “regime is going to be measured not in decades, but in years,” then sighed and added, “And that’s comforting.”

During the government shutdown and the demolition of the East Wing to build a new ballroom, Newsom posted an AI-generated image of Marie Antoinette with Trump’s face. The caption on X read: “Trump ‘Marie Antoinette’ says, ‘No health care for you peasants, But a ballroom for the queen!’”

In response to Newsom’s social media attack, The POTUS has repeatedly hit back. He has called for California Governor to resign and blamed him for the major wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January. In June, Trump supported the idea of arresting Newsom after the governor dared White House border czar Tom Homan to arrest him following federal immigration raids in Los Angeles. 

Trump has also shared memes and videos mocking Newsom, including one in September that shows the governor at a press conference with a red “Trump 2028” hat edited onto his head.