California Governor Newsom Responds to DHS Trolling
California Governor Gavin Newsom found himself in an awkward position on Saturday after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) poked fun at him, sharing a photo of a protester in a large penis costume at the “No Kings” rally.
This protester, who was at a rally in Portland, Oregon, held up a sign reading, “Kick the Deeds Nuts out.” The DHS captioned the image, “Breaking news: Gavin Newsom showed up to riot!”
Newsom, who has been attempting to match President Donald Trump’s social media antics, responded with a rather tepid, “You’re an embarrassment,” which didn’t seem to resonate widely.
It seems that Newsom and his team might be trying to engage in a sort of shadow play against Trump’s style by offering one-sided critiques, presumably to appeal to Democrats who support Newsom’s more reckless decisions.
The DHS’s post caught Newsom in a tight spot, given the ridiculous aspects of the “No Kings” protests, which featured older activists in strange costumes, often referred to as “Gran Tifa.”
Throughout his tenure, Newsom has wielded significant executive power in California, arguably even more than Trump, whose behavior he often criticizes. For instance, he imposed a ban on group prayer in public and private settings during the pandemic, a move later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Looking ahead, both Newsom and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker seem to be competing on who can take a stronger anti-Trump stance as they prepare for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. Meanwhile, their states continue to grapple with pressing public policy issues that neither of them appears keen to tackle.
