Gavin Newsom has started acting like Trump on Twitter, posting memes, trolling opponents, and leaning into internet culture.
A lot of his content has been aimed at JD Vance, even poking fun at Vance's wife.
He's also taken shots at right-wing influencers like Scott Pressler, Liz of TikTok, and Nancy Mace.
When Tomi Lahren complained about him mocking a gay conservative, Newsom's press office just shot back, "You sound woke."
Newsom even retweeted a meme from a Nazi account comparing his high school photo to JD Vance's, joking about a scarf he wore.
Another meme showed JD Vance awkwardly running at Disneyland, which Newsom captioned with "Go get 'em JD."
He's been posting in all caps, sharing AI images of himself on Mount Rushmore, and generally trolling in the Trump style.
Conservatives on Fox News are outraged, accusing him of being unserious and telling him to "put the phone away."
One controversy came when Newsom said Greg Abbott "rolled over" for Trump, which critics claimed mocked Abbott's wheelchair use.
Newsom's press office brushed that off too, saying, "Sorry Greg's feelings were hurt. Poor guy. We hope he recovers."
This has flipped the script a bit, making conservatives look like snowflakes for complaining about mean tweets.
Polling shows Newsom is already near the top of the pack for 2028, second only to Kamala Harris.
Betting markets also have him climbing, with odds in the low 20s percent range.
His strategy clearly echoes Trump's rise, where "he fights" mattered more than policy details.
For Democrats tired of cautious politicians, Newsom's aggressive style feels refreshing.
He's got a huge advantage with money, since California's tech and Hollywood donors are already in his corner.
Critics warn that his hype may not last, pointing to Kamala Harris's early TikTok popularity that fizzled out.
His podcast numbers are weak, suggesting his organic fan base may not be as big as it looks online.
He hasn't faced tough questions on issues like immigration or Israel/Gaza, which could expose vulnerabilities later.
At bottom, Newsom comes off as deeply ambitious, polarizing, and willing to do whatever it takes — which makes him both a formidable candidate and an easy target.
Politics & Media