‘Gavin’s incompetent’: Trump says he’s ‘amazed’ Newsom is planning a 2028 presidential run
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: President Donald Trump expressed surprise and criticism over California Governor Gavin Newsom’s consideration of a 2028 presidential bid, calling the state’s leadership “incompetent” and warning that ongoing issues could haunt the governor on the national campaign trail.
In an Oval Office interview with the New York Post on Friday, January 23, Trump criticized Newsom’s handling of the state, pointing to sanctuary policies, alleged fraud, and disputes over federal funding. “I’m amazed Gavin wants to run for office. “Gavin’s incompetent,” Trump said.
He highlighted California’s reputation as a land of opportunity but added that residents are frustrated with poor governance and costly projects.
Trump criticizes Newsom’s governance
President Donald Trump emphasized the contrast between California’s dreamlike image and what he described as mismanagement under Gavin Newsom’s leadership. He cited the $135 billion high-speed rail project intended to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco as a prime example.
“He has the train, the train to nowhere, that was supposed to be a simple train that went from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It’s the greatest cost run over that I’ve ever seen,” Trump said.
The train project, initially scheduled for completion in 2020, now targets a partial Central Valley segment by 2030. Ongoing funding issues have left taxpayers responsible for sustaining construction over the years.
Trump told the Post that “people love the dream of California, but they hate what’s happening to them.” He said the state lacks “proper leadership” and argued that Gavin Newsom’s management of major infrastructure and policy initiatives has fallen short.
Trump added that California residents are bearing the cost of poorly executed projects while struggling with broader governance issues. He described Newsom’s “train to nowhere” as emblematic of wasted funds and bureaucratic inefficiency, claiming he could have built the project in one year. He also noted that while the project has made incremental progress, the timeline accounts for only a small portion of the state’s major urban hubs.
Relationship between Trump and Newsom
Donald Trump said his relationship with Gavin Newsom has deteriorated from cooperative to “hopeless,” stating, “I used to get along with him, but now it’s sort of a hopeless situation. They’ve gone radical left. They’re crazy.”
Both attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Newsom publicly criticized Trump’s record on the international stage. Trump confirmed they spoke during the forum but declined to provide details, saying, “I saw him in Davos. I spoke to him. I spoke to him fine.”
Despite the criticism, Newsom continues to raise his national profile and currently leads polling for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
According to RealClearPolitics, Newsom holds 24% support among Democrats, ahead of former Vice President Kamala Harris at 21%, Pete Buttigieg at 11%, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 8%.
Trump warned that California’s ongoing issues, including mismanaged projects and strained governance, will follow Newsom onto the national stage.
