California Governor Gavin Newsom shared that he had a conversation with Charlie Kirk after appearing as a guest on the podcast “This is Gavin Newsom.” He described their interaction at a recent campaign event as respectful, mentioning how Kirk went out of his way to meet him in person.
“We had a civil discussion that lasted not just an hour,” Newsom said to progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. “And we’ve maintained contact since then, keeping in touch regularly.”
During their time on the podcast, Newsom and Kirk had a clash regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports. Newsom expressed frustration, labeling it an issue of fairness. He also noted that his children were watching Kirk’s content, which seemed to particularly concern him.
“We clearly have differing views,” Newsom commented. “Kirk was upset about my stance, and I was equally frustrated by his. But it was an opportunity for us to engage.”
The governor emphasized the gravity of the current political climate, stating that it feels like a critical moment for American democracy. “If we don’t take a stand, we risk losing our republic. We need to stand firm for democracy right now,” he added.
In the backdrop of a recent tragedy involving Kirk, a conservative figure and founder of Turning Point USA, who was killed during an event, Newsom also called for political action from Democrats. He referred to what he sees as a “Code Red” threat against democracy, urging Democratic leaders to respond with strength and moral authority against what he perceives as misinformation and hate speech fueling division.
In the wake of these events, Newsom mentioned that it’s crucial to win in the face of political challenges to maintain democratic principles.
Meanwhile, Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Kirk’s assassination, was charged by Utah authorities, with reports indicating he held extreme leftist views that were against Kirk’s positions.
