Mark Ruffalo Critiques Governor Newsom Over Billionaire Tax Opposition

Mark Ruffalo, known for his role in Marvel’s The Avengers series, has publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom regarding his stance on a proposed billionaires tax.

In a post on X, Ruffalo expressed frustration at Newsom, claiming the governor continually “sells out the working class people for the billionaires.”

The crux of the issue lies in Newsom’s endorsement of Proposition 42, which aims to prevent the implementation of a state-wide wealth tax targeting billionaires. Newsom has voiced concerns that such taxes could jeopardize people’s retirement savings.

“I am proud to stand with firefighters, blue-collar unions, veterans, seniors, and small businesses in support of Prop 42. We all agree that Californians deserve to have their retirement and life savings protected from new state taxes so those savings are there when they need them,” Newsom stated in a supportive announcement.

However, Ruffalo is pushing back against the governor’s resistance to new wealth taxes.

“Once again. Just like the Paramount Merger, Gavin Newsom does what he always does. Sells out the working class people for the billionaires again and again. Not only that but endorses a bill that will make it impossible to tax the wealthy at all,” he remarked on X.

This isn’t the first time Ruffalo has criticized Newsom. He has previously condemned the governor’s backing of the merger between Paramount and Warner Brothers Discovery.

In September, Ruffalo accused Newsom of siding with former President Donald Trump regarding the merger, labeling the outcome a betrayal and a “huge win to Trump.”

Additionally, earlier this month, Ruffalo faulted Newsom for vetoing a bill related to AI safety, calling the move “a mistake” and encouraging the public to consider the influence of money on Newsom’s choices.

“AI is now a real-life technology, and love it or hate it, most everyone agrees it will make a massive impact on all of our real lives,” Ruffalo expressed in an op-ed for TIME, titled, “Governor Newsom’s Veto on the AI Bill Was a Mistake.”