Gavin Newsom says family concerns could shape his 2028 presidential run

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose name has often been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential contender, recently spoke about the personal considerations that could influence such a decision.

In interviews, he emphasized the role of his family in shaping any decision to pursue the White House, highlighting the importance of balancing political ambitions with family priorities.

Family considerations in Gavin Newsom’s political decisions

Newsom revealed that his son, Romeo, has already weighed in on the subject. Speaking to CNN’s Dana Bash on 'State of the Union,' on Sunday, February 22.

Newsom recounted a text exchange with his son, "My son, Romeo, was very powerful, texted me a few months ago, and there was some headline that suggested that I made some decision, and he goes, ‘Dad, are you running [for] president?"

He continued, “‘I said, ‘No, we’ll do [the] decision as a family.’ He goes, ‘You can’t.’ I said, ‘Why?’ He goes, ’I’m too young. You need to spend more time with us.’ I mean, how do you deal with that one?’”

When questioned what would stop him from running for president, Newsom replied, “There are five of them.” He continued: “It will be done as a family and it’ll be done as a unit. It will be done as a partnership.”

Newsom said "It depends on the day," when pressed if his family actually wants him to run. He also discussed the possibility of running against former Vice President Kamala Harris.

“What happens if and when those parallel careers intersect and collide?” Bash asked Newsom. “Well, I’m San Francisco now, she’s LA,” Newsom said at first. “So there’s a little distance between the two of us. You know, fate will determine that.”

Gavin Newsom on global stage and US reputation

Beyond family influence, Newsom’s political profile has grown substantially over recent years, in part due to his outspoken opposition to President Donald Trump.

His press office has adopted some of Trump’s social media tactics, including the use of all caps and brash language, to mock Trump and his allies. Recently, Newsom has also expanded his profile internationally. 

He attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, last month and the Munich Security Conference earlier this month. 

Speaking on the sidelines of the security conference, Newsom discussed how world leaders perceive the United States, particularly under Trump’s presidency. “They see us as a wrecking ball,” he told CNN’s Kasie Hunt.

“They see us as unreliable, and a lot of them think irrevocable. They don’t think we’ll ever come back to our original form.” However, Newsom expressed a more optimistic outlook, saying, “I’m not as convinced of that. Whatever happens, we can undo, we can shapeshift, we can fix it.”

“I hope, if there’s nothing else I can communicate today: Donald Trump is temporary. He’ll be gone in three years,” Newsom said during a panel at the security conference.