Actor James Woods has expressed concern that Governor Gavin Newsom’s rising national visibility is masking California’s poor record, particularly regarding wildfire management. He believes that despite initial interest in Newsom as a potential presidential candidate, he won’t ultimately lead the Democratic Party.
Woods characterized Newsom as filling a “power vacuum” in the party, and he dismissed other figures considered for leadership as merely “clown shows.” He pointed out that the party lacks a true leader, mentioning Kamala Harris and AOC, whom he referred to in a dismissive tone.
He warned that Newsom’s visibility should not be confused with skill or effectiveness. “This master fraudster, Gavin Newsom, has a terrible record, but people don’t really pay attention to that,” Woods commented, using an analogy from farming: “But as fruit farmers always say, early ripening, early rotting.”
Woods, who has directly experienced wildfire damage in his neighborhood, attributed the devastation to state mismanagement rather than climate change. “Our house survived by the grace of God and by following fire department guidelines,” he noted, contrasting it with the nearby house that didn’t make it.
He criticized the state for neglecting local land, which he claims has become a dangerous fire risk. “They haven’t cleared that brush since the 1978 fire, because that little piece of land there is managed by the state,” he argued. “And they’re protecting plants that are literally weeds.”
Woods also accused Newsom of avoiding accountability by blaming climate change for the state’s failures in handling wildfires. He highlighted issues like San Francisco’s “infamous poop map” as further evidence of Newsom’s leadership shortcomings, asserting that the city has declined under his watch. “This guy couldn’t find a way to stop it,” Woods lamented, suggesting that local leaders do not prioritize cleaning up for working citizens.
