Katie Couric trolled over 'too good-looking' question to Gavin Newsom in podcast interview

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Veteran journalist Katie Couric found herself at the center of online mockery after a clip from her podcast interview with Gavin Newsom went viral, showing her asking the governor whether being “too good-looking” had ever been a problem for him.

During an episode of her podcast Next Question on Thursday, March 5, Couric referenced the 2001 comedy 'Zoolander' while questioning Newsom about his public image.

“Do you have a Zoolander problem?” Couric asked, drawing laughter from the governor.

Katie Couric praises Newsom's 'good-looks'

She continued the line of questioning by referencing a magazine profile that praised Newsom’s appearance.

“Are you just ridiculously good-looking as Vogue said? No, seriously, what do you do about that?” she asked, referring to a Vogue spread that described him as “embarrassingly handsome.”

Newsom brushed off the remark and suggested there was little he could do about how people perceived him. “You don’t do anything about it because if you do something about it, then you’re fooling people,” he said.

“You know what? I am who I am. It’s fine. You don’t have to like me. Or maybe you like a slick person, I don’t know. Whatever. It’s okay.”

Megyn Kelly, Stephen Miller among critics mocking the exchange

The clip quickly spread on social media platform X, where several commentators accused Couric of asking a soft or promotional question rather than pressing the governor on policy.

Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly mocked the exchange, suggesting Couric would not ask a similar question of Republican figures.

“I’m 100% sure she would ask the same of JD Vance, naturally, of course,” Kelly wrote, referencing Vice President JD Vance.

White House adviser Stephen Miller also weighed in, arguing that the media was trying to boost Newsom’s image.

“He can't run for President on his record, so they are attempting to fabricate charisma,” Miller wrote.

Others joined the criticism with harsher commentary about the interview.

Radio personality Adam Carolla posted “Close your eyes and picture Hunter Biden. They are the same guy. Confident, tone deaf and dumb.”

Several other commentators criticized the question itself, with one writing “She isn’t a real journalist. This is embarrassing, even for her.”

Another user quipped “Katie has the audacity to lecture people on what real journalism is. If Acosta had an older sister…”

Couric presses Newsom on California’s economic struggles

Later in the interview, however, Couric shifted to more serious policy questions, highlighting criticism about California’s economic performance.

She cited statistics showing the state struggling with poverty and unemployment compared with other parts of the country.

“The highest poverty rate tied with Louisiana, the highest unemployment, Mississippi schools outperform California schools, especially for poor kids,” Couric said.

“People see that or hear that or read that and they’re like, ‘No thanks, California. No thanks, Gavin Newsom. We’re good."

Newsom pushed back on the characterization, arguing that California’s poverty figures have long been influenced by housing costs.

“Our poverty rate’s about average. And we’re right up there with Florida, Louisiana and others with the supplemental poverty rate,” Newsom said.

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