California Gov. Gavin Newsom is drawing sharp reactions from conservatives with his new social media strategy—mimicking Donald Trump’s signature all-caps rants, name-calling, and even posting AI-generated images. The parody, praised by Democrats, highlights behavior long normalized from Trump himself.
Fox News hosts bristled at the approach. Dana Perino urged Newsom to “stop it,” calling it unbecoming of a governor with higher ambitions. Trace Gallagher added, “You are the governor of the biggest state in the union—what are you doing?”
For years, Trump has unleashed late-night tirades on Truth Social, targeting rivals and spreading conspiracy theories. Critics argue media outlets have “sanewashed” his rhetoric, failing to confront its absurdity. Newsom’s parody aims to flip that script.
Since launching the campaign Aug. 1, Newsom’s @GovPressOffice account has gained more than 250,000 followers, 225 million impressions, and 1.5 million profile visits. At a Los Angeles press conference, he defended the strategy: “If you’ve got issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he’s putting out as president.”
For Newsom, the parody is less a joke—and more a pointed critique.
