Gavin Newsom hits Trump with new nickname ‘The Nodfather’ after viral 'Dozy Don' jab

Gavin Newsom’s press office mocked Donald Trump’s sleepy moments again, escalating their nickname feud from 'Dozy Don' to 'The Nodfather'
Donald Trump was captured with his eyes closed in a collage shared by Gavin Newsom’s team nicknaming him ‘The Nodfather' (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Donald Trump was captured with his eyes closed in a collage shared by Gavin Newsom’s team nicknaming him ‘The Nodfather' (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: California Governor Gavin Newsom's office has once again mocked President Donald Trump's tendency to appear drowsy in public, this time coining the nickname “The Nodfather." The latest jab was shared through a collage of images on X showing Trump with his eyes closed, styled in the iconic 'The Godfather' font.

The governor’s press office posted the image on Saturday, November 8, simply captioning it: “saw this. had to share.”



The collage showed Trump seemingly nodding off at several public events, accompanied by the bold title “The Nodfather.” 

Donald Trump’s new nickname goes from 'Dozy Don' to 'The Nodfather'

“The Nodfather” follows an earlier nickname from Newsom’s office, “Dozy Don,” a pointed jab that mirrored Trump’s own fondness for alliterative insults. Just two days before the new post, on November 7, the governor’s team declared “DOZY DON IS BACK” on X.



That post included an image and video of Trump appearing tired during a White House event with Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The event, held in the Oval Office, focused on lowering prices for weight loss drugs under Medicare and Medicaid. Trump’s eyes appeared to close several times as Oz spoke.

‘Dozy don’ nickname used after 2020 claim

Newsom’s office first used the “Dozy Don” label in September after Trump repeated unverified claims that he “won in 2020 big” during his second state visit to the United Kingdom. 



At that time, the governor’s office posted a Fox News clip on X, captioning it: “DOZY DON WHO LOOKS AWFUL RECENTLY (‘THE HANDS’) IS LYING ON LIVE TELEVISION!” The post referenced Trump’s visible fatigue and made jabs about his physical appearance. 

Donald Trump’s health under scrutiny amid visible ailments

The jokes about Trump's drowsiness come amid ongoing scrutiny of his health following his UK trip, where cameras captured his heavily made-up right hand and swollen ankles. The makeup appeared to conceal a bruise, sparking speculation about his physical condition. 

Donald Trump's right hand had a makeup patch seemingly covering a bruise (Screengrab/C-SPAN)
Donald Trump’s right hand had a visible makeup patch that seemed to cover a bruise (Screengrab/C-SPAN)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later said the bruising was from “frequent handshaking and the use of aspirin,” part of a “standard cardiovascular prevention regime.” 

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a White House Faith Office luncheon in the State Dining Room at the White House on July 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Pastor Paula White-Cain, the head of the White House Faith Office, hosted the luncheon with members of government and faith-based and community organizations. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Donald Trump delivered remarks during a White House Faith Office luncheon on July 14, 2025 in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Trump’s health has faced questions since July, when he was photographed watching the FIFA Club World Cup final with visibly swollen ankles. The White House later confirmed that he had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common circulatory condition among older adults that affects blood flow in the legs, a common condition in older people where leg veins struggle to return blood to the heart.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Megan Lambert was among four people killed when a gunman opened fire in a special education classroom at the elementary school on Thursday
2026-10-18T05:32:09.000Z
Jason Miller interrupted Katie Zacharia’s Wall Street Journal interview, saying JD Vance wanted to speak with her before she left and never returned
2026-10-18T03:15:22.000Z
The rally took a different turn when an immigrant from Ghana voiced strong support for President Trump and his policies
2026-10-17T22:01:22.000Z
Laura Loomer’s relationship with Trump drew attention as she reportedly raised concerns directly with him about officials she viewed as disloyal
2026-10-17T21:30:09.000Z
The incident occurred as the Norte Fire tore through parts of southern Orange County after breaking out near San Clemente on Friday
2026-10-17T20:19:08.000Z
The mother's own experience had taught her how deeply a school shooting could affect a young person, even after the immediate danger had passed
2026-10-17T18:12:10.000Z
Katie Zacharia received her first ticket in Los Angeles County in June 2023 and was assigned a traffic school course
2026-10-17T09:01:12.000Z
Griffin John II had previously attended Silver Rail Elementary School, Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz said
2026-10-17T08:28:53.000Z
Paolo Zampolli has been ousted from his State Department role following a bitter feud with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau
2026-10-17T07:40:59.000Z
The messages reportedly arrived in April, months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home on February 1
2026-10-17T05:18:30.000Z