Gavin Newsom slams Trump’s New Year’s Eve party amid looming healthcare losses

The California governor took a swipe at Trump after a video taken from the president’s Mar-a-Lago bash made rounds online
PUBLISHED JAN 2, 2026
Gavin Newsom wasn’t too impressed with President Donald Trump’s lavish New Year’s Eve party (Getty Images)
Gavin Newsom wasn’t too impressed with President Donald Trump’s lavish New Year’s Eve party (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: California Governor Gavin Newsom called out President Donald Trump on social media Thursday, slamming him for throwing a flashy New Year’s Eve party in Florida.

Newsom didn’t hold back, especially since millions of Americans could lose their health insurance in 2026.

The jab fired up the ongoing tension between Trump and Newsom, who says these fancy parties just show how out of touch he is with what regular people are dealing with right now.

Newsom targets party footage with sharp healthcare warning

A viral video from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve celebration showed an opulent setup, including a caviar bar and a large ice sculpture wishing attendees a '2026 Happy New Year,' with guests dressed in formal attire and music playing in the background.



In response, Newsom posted a terse message on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Don’t worry, 17 million Americans begin to get kicked off their health care this year.”

The governor linked the lavish event to the heated healthcare fight happening in Washington, DC.

Right now, Republicans are pushing for changes in federal spending, and budget gridlock is making things messy. 

Nobody on either side has managed to agree on a fix for the Obamacare subsidies that ran out at the end of 2025. Newsom and other Democrats warn that this standoff is setting up a major coverage crisis.

Donald Trump speaks to guests during a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. The President addressed guests and celebrated the arrival of 2026. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Donald Trump speaks to guests during a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

In November, Democrats bowed to pressure by supporting the passage of a short-term spending bill to reopen the government in exchange for a vote on the divisive healthcare issue.

Nonpartisan analysts, including estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, have said that cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could result in as many as 17 million Americans losing their health insurance by 2034.

Trump’s celebration draws high-profile guests

Even with all the backlash, Trump threw his Mar-a-Lago party anyway.

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 31: U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. The president addressed guests and celebrated the arrival of 2026. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump arrive for a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home on December 31, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The place filled up with MAGA loyalists; Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, showed up; Rudy Giuliani made an appearance; and plenty of conservative media folks mingled around.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, were there too, which kind of shows just how far the guest list reached.

A clip posted by the president’s eldest son showed him dancing along as rapper Vanilla Ice performed 'Ice Ice Baby.'



As of Friday morning, the White House had not yet responded to Newsom’s commentary on social media or provided an official comment on the governor’s criticism.

Newsom’s remarks underscore a broader partisan battle over priorities in US governance, with Democrats accusing Trump of ignoring domestic economic and healthcare concerns in favor of high-profile social events.

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