Gavin Newsom Explains His Social Media Criticism of Trump and Declines to Confirm 2028 Presidential Bid

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:36:00 +0200

During a Friday appearance on HBO's “Real Time with Bill Maher,” California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed his controversial social media activity targeting former President Donald Trump. Maher noted that Newsom’s approach resembled Trump’s own tactics, including suing Fox News for defamation. Newsom countered by saying he is not imitating Trump but rather holding up a “mirror” to highlight what he sees as extreme or abnormal behavior. He cited examples such as Trump cosplaying as religious figures, placing his image on Mount Rushmore, and using all-caps messaging online. Newsom argued that his actions aim to call out a pattern of behavior that the media often overlooks. Throughout the interview, Maher attempted to discuss Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential candidacy, but the governor consistently avoided a direct answer, redirecting the conversation back to Trump’s conduct. While polls reportedly show Newsom as a frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, he refrained from committi