Gavin Newsom sparks backlash after comparing his look to Patrick Bateman: 'This is not a flex'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Governor Gavin Newsom recently garnered widespread attention on social after comparing his appearance to Patrick Bateman, the infamous character from 'American Psycho.' 

In a post shared on X Monday evening, Newsom uploaded a split-screen image placing his face next to actor Christian Bale’s depiction of the serial killer. The comparison, intended as humor, instead led to significant backlash and mockery across social media platforms. 

Gavin Newsom’s comparison to Patrick Bateman sparks backlash

Newsom shared the photo on X with the caption, “For years, people have said that Patrick Bateman and I look alike, and now this image is circulating widely—what do you think?” The post rapidly gained traction online, sparking strong reactions.

One user criticized him, saying, “Yeah, looks aren’t the reason people compare you to him.”

Another user said, "Well he was a sociopathic, narcissist and a douchbag in that movie so I think that’s probably the similarity people are seeing."

A commenter stated, “Gas is high, homeless people everywhere and this is what you’re worried about, brother?”

Another critic pointed out, “Oh no, we did not! We’ve been saying you look like Patrick Bateman, the character in American psycho that Christian Bale played! This is not a flex or a complement whatsoever. He played a narcissistic psychopath serial killer ! Who in the hell is running this account?!"

A netizen responded, “Patrick Bateman was a self-absorbed psychopath who placed vanity above everything else. Perfect comparison."

One individual commented, "Poor Gavin doesn’t have a single original thought floating around in his grease filled head."

Gavin Newsom’s social media activities and ongoing clash with Trump

In a post that was quickly deleted, the governor initially compared himself directly to Bale before revising it to reference his character from the film instead.

Observers have drawn parallels between Newsom’s tone and that of President Donald Trump, noting similarities to the president’s distinctive social media style, which Newsom’s team has increasingly adopted to troll him.

Following the backlash, Newsom responded in the comments, writing, “They still don't get it.”

His approach reflects a broader shift in strategy. Last year, the California governor revamped his communications team, and has since leaned into tactics often associated with Trump, including online trolling, meme wars, mocking TikTok videos, insults, and even legal action against media outlets. In one instance, his team filed a lawsuit accusing Fox News of misleading reporting.

Newsom, also addressed his political future in an interview with CBS News last year, stating that he would decide whether to run for president in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections. He said, “Yeah, I’d be lying otherwise, I’d just be lying. And I’m not – I can’t do that.”

Meanwhile, tensions between Newsom and Trump have continued to escalate. Trump has said he believes people with learning disabilities should not be president, renewing his attacks on Newsom over his dyslexia.

The president also called him “dumb” and mocked his reading and spelling difficulties, prompting Newsom to respond by calling him “a brain-dead m***n.”