Newsom is trying to make a good impression on everyone ahead of the 2028 presidential election. But so far he’s doing the opposite of that.
And Gavin Newsom was called out by his own party for being caught in this appalling act.
Democrats Debate Newsom’s Social Media Strategy
On ABC’s This Week, former DNC chair Donna Brazile took aim at California Governor Gavin Newsom’s social media jabs at President Donald Trump, calling for a more serious approach in today’s charged political climate.
“These are serious times,” Brazile declared, as host Jonathan Karl pointed out how Newsom’s posts echoed Trump’s distinctive online style. Karl pressed Brazile on whether mimicking the president was the right tactic for Democrats.
Brazile quipped, “Everybody likes a good laugh, and now he’s about to, I guess, issue his own cup and golden tennis shoes and who knows what else.”
She emphasized the need for focused leadership, adding, “These are serious times that require serious people to be at the table.”
Brazile earlier framed Newsom’s approach as part of a larger push for Democrats to fight more fiercely. Citing a New York Times report on the party’s dwindling voter registration, she said, “The Democratic Party has outsourced so many functions to third-party organizations that didn’t produce the registration numbers.
“This is a wake-up call as Democrats gather, starting tomorrow in Minnesota, where we are going to have to figure out what is the road forward? We have to do the basic things.”
“But we also have to be prepared to do what Gavin Newsom is urging Democrats of all different persuasions, fight back, punch harder. If we’re going to regain Congress and get ready for the White House, Democrats are going to have to come up with a different playbook.”
Newsom’s team stood by his strategy. Izzy Gardon, his director of communications, told Fox News Digital, “We couldn’t agree more with Donna here — serious times call for a serious President.”
“What MAGA doesn’t get is that Governor Newsom isn’t imitating Donald Trump, he’s holding up a mirror and mocking him.”
The governor’s tactics have drawn mixed reactions. On HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, comedian Bill Maher called Newsom’s approach “very funny,” arguing, “I feel like Gavin has grasped the essential thing about American culture in this day and age. Don’t try to outsmart people. You have to outstupid them.”
But not everyone was convinced. Guest Frank Bruni cautioned, “I’m not sure it’s smart. Since Trump came down that escalator in 2015, Democrats have been mocking him and belittling him as a strategy.”
Newsom’s personal and press accounts on X have leaned into mimicking Trump’s style, even promoting merchandise like a red hat that reads, “Newsom was right about everything.”
THE PATRIOT SHOP IS NOW OPEN!!!!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS THE GREATEST MERCHANDISE EVER MADE.
PLEASE ENJOY, AMERICA! https://t.co/H9wbcXdNhb pic.twitter.com/dWlKGq23eq
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 24, 2025
An MSNBC opinion piece by Zeeshan Aleem praised the move as bold, writing, “His new routine represents a rare foray by a politician from a largely milquetoast and earnest party toward something playful, transgressive and edgy.”
As Democrats chart their path forward, Newsom’s provocative social media strategy continues to draw mixed reactions from the Democratic Party, with some questioning whether or not it’s an effective strategy.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
