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'
PUBLISHED NOV 9, 2025
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.

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