California Gov. Gavin Newsom took direct aim at President Donald Trump on Wednesday, blasting what he called the president’s “authoritarian tendencies” and warning that Trump won’t willingly leave office at the end of his second term.
Speaking at POLITICO’s California Summit in Sacramento, the Democrat — widely seen as a potential 2028 presidential contender — accused Trump of rejecting democratic norms and pointed to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots as proof.
“You think he’s joking about 2028?” Newsom asked the crowd. “Wake up. You will lose your country.”
When Fox News Digital asked the White House for comment, spokeswoman Abigail Jackson shot back, mocking Newsom. “While Newscum is on a Panican Media Tour, President Trump is delivering win after win for the American people. When will Newscum learn that President Trump is right about everything?!” she said.
The Trump team has repeatedly denied that the president is pursuing a third term, which would be unconstitutional. Still, earlier this year, Trump’s official online retailer began selling a “Trump 2028” hat — fueling speculation about his long-term plans. Newsom wasn’t buying it. “I don’t think Donald Trump wants another election,” he said, adding that he owns “two dozen ‘Trump 2028’ hats his folks keep sending me.”
The governor argued that Trump’s actions reveal a broader strategy to cling to power. He noted Trump’s extravagant spending at Mar-a-Lago, saying, “Who spends $200 million on a ballroom at their home and then leaves the house? This is serious, guys. This is serious.”
Tensions between the two leaders have intensified in recent months. Earlier this summer, Trump became the first president in six decades to federalize a state’s National Guard without the governor’s consent, deploying California troops to Los Angeles during protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Since then, Trump has sent more than 20,000 troops to Washington, D.C., in an aggressive crackdown on crime and has floated similar deployments to cities like Baltimore and Chicago.
“This is a real and serious moment in U.S. history,” Newsom said. “And by the way, I say that as an American, not as a Democrat. Every Republican should be ashamed about this and scared to death about not just these authoritarian tendencies, but these authoritarian actions. He is weak. He’s weakness masquerading as strength — and that makes him more dangerous than most people believe.”
Newsom didn’t hold back, calling Trump “the most destructive and damaging individual in my lifetime that happens to be the President of the United States.” He also took aim at Republican redistricting maneuvers in Texas, vowing to fight back with his own California maps designed to add five Democrat-leaning House seats. “I’m sick and tired of Democrats being on the losing end in this country,” he declared. “We have got to fight fire with fire.”
The governor closed his fiery remarks with a warning. “We’re losing this country in real time. This is not bloviation. This is not an exagger