California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken an audacious political gamble. He’s become a prominent critic on social media, known for his comedic but razor sharp critiques of former President Donald Trump. This tactic is reminiscent of the political scene as it existed in 2017, an era known for cutting political discourse and Twitter Wars. As he seeks to raise his own national profile, Newsom’s office has doubled down on their attacks on Trump. This strategy demonstrates the governor’s long-term ambition to be a viable presidential candidate one day.
Since his tenure as mayor of San Francisco, Newsom has demonstrated a knack for controversial decisions, such as legalizing same-sex marriage in California back in 2004. His career has followed an unusual trajectory as well. It’s no surprise then to hear critics claim that he frequently stumbles into big moves “in the most annoying way possible.” That hasn’t stopped him, instead it appears to have energized his pursuit of another, higher office.
In an intriguing twist, Governor Newsom has turned one of his office’s social media accounts into a platform for humor directed at the White House. This new initiative shouts out his comedic dreams. Beyond just helping build a more inclusive movement, it’s the smartest strategy to reach more people. His social media account, @GovPressOffice, has already drawn comparisons to VP Kamala Harris’s recent efforts to use humor to make a troll out of Trump. This illustrates a new trend among Democratic politicians who want to sabotage their Republican rivals with humor.
Newsom is, as we describe in more detail below, very much in the midst of remaking California’s political landscape. He’s pitching it as an anti-gerrymandering measure to counter tactics employed by Texas legislators. He bills all of these efforts as common sense in order to provide fair representation and keep control of the Democrats within the state. This approach aligns neatly with his more general political strategy. More importantly, it demonstrates his dedication to capitalizing on any and every opportunity that presents itself in this new counterintuitive political landscape.
Newsom has for years been on the receiving end of good natured digs from his critics who like to mock their Governor with “Goofy Gavin” and “Blabbin Gavin” nicknames. These nicknames usually come from his love of gaudy public displays and, at other moments, bad judgment. In the meantime, he continues to project a shiny, affordable image. His “great big beautiful head of hair” certainly speaks to his attractiveness as a candidate, according to some of his backers.
This task is one that many people have eagerly followed as he has risen through the ranks of California politics. They’ve watched him grow from the mayoral office to the governor’s mansion. Having recently announced ambitions to run for president and serving in that capacity, Newsom is smartly leaning into a politics-meets-entertainment approach. He is trying to reach younger voters who respond to personality and style over substance, who respond to humor and social media interaction.
Newsom’s approach to social media tells you everything you need to know about the current state of play in politics today. Through humor as a weapon, he wants to battle against not just Trump’s policies but individual tweets and controversial actions to reach Californians, and the world. His comedic offensive has already prompted nationwide conversations at platforms from CNN to Fox, showcasing the political importance of his blatant trolling.
In an exuberant social media post he made regarding gerrymandering, Newsom proclaimed:
“THE GOLDEN ERA BEGINS IN THE GOLDEN STATE, ALL BECAUSE OF ME, THE PEOPLE’S GOVERNOR, THE CARTOGRAPHER-IN-CHIEF, WHO WILL NOW LET THE PEOPLE VOTE!!! THANK YOU, USA!!!” – Gavin Newsom
This cheeky but nevertheless bold message reflects just how confident and willing to play he is while he continues to move his divisive political agenda forward. It further underscores his conviction that he can plow through the political carnage with a jocular detour.
Critics argue that Newsom’s tendency to turn everything into a punchline sometimes goes awry, resulting in cringe-worthy missteps. One such incident—which has been widely reported—was a seemingly innocuous photo-op with Kimberly Guilfoyle that made the fiends in charge of dark money givers gasp. Even with these stingings, he’s not trying to change course with his alternative brand of go-it-alone government.
As Newsom continues to maneuver the tangled web of California politics, and his ambitions for a bigger, national role, there is no question he is making waves. His combination of acerbic wit and laser-like political focus brings him back into the national spotlight. Whether he can successfully ride this momentum all the way to a presidential run, we’ll just have to wait and see.