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California Governor Gavin Newsom is employing a provocative social media strategy, directly mimicking the interaction style of former President Donald Trump, and the tactic is generating meaningful reaction, especially from Fox News. The governor’s press office has been utilizing X, formerly Twitter, to deliver pointed critiques and playful jabs at prominent Republican figures, mirroring Trump’s signature all-caps posts, hyperbolic language, and nickname-based attacks.
The Escalation of Online Sparring
The current exchange began as a response to perceived attacks from conservative media outlets. Newsom’s team has assigned nicknames like “Commander Cosplay” to U.S. secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and “Cancun Cruz” to Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, referencing Cruz’s controversial trip to Mexico during a severe winter storm in 2021. Former President Trump himself has been dubbed “Small Hands.”
These online maneuvers extend to visually striking memes, including digitally altered images depicting Newsom on Mount Rushmore, as a monarch on the cover of Time magazine, and as a messianic figure revered by figures like tucker Carlson, Kid Rock, and the late Hulk Hogan. One post, simply stating “I HATE KID ROCK!!! – GCN,” further exemplifies the deliberately provocative tone.
Did You know?
The use of nicknames as a political tool dates back centuries, but its modern iteration gained prominence during Trump’s presidency.
Fox News Reacts wiht criticism
The governor’s approach has drawn sharp criticism from Fox News personalities. Host Dana Perino urged Newsom to “stop it with the Twitter thing,” while Sean Hannity decried the “performative confrontational style” as appealing only to a “loony radical base.” Trace Gallagher characterized the tone as “childish.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis weighed in, suggesting Newsom’s focus on Trump distracts him from governing California effectively. desantis questioned, “Why is he spending all this time trying to be fresh with President trump? Why doesn’t he do his job and protect the people?”
Newsom responded to the criticism with a post stating, “Jesse, please stop calling me Daddy. It’s disturbing,” after fox’s Jesse Watters used the term during a segment. he further amplified the attention, posting, “WOW! FOX NEWS CAN’T STOP TALKING ABOUT ME (GAVIN C. NEWSOM),AMERICA’S FAVOURITE GOVERNOR!!! TONIGHT THEIR ENTIRE PRIMETIME LINEUP WAS ABOUT ME!”
Data Shows Increased Engagement
Despite the criticism,Newsom’s X account has experienced considerable growth. Since the beginning of August, the account gained 250,000 followers and amassed over 225 million impressions, suggesting the strategy is resonating with a significant audience.
Even Steve Bannon, a key figure in the Trump political network, acknowledged Newsom’s approach, stating he is “trying to imitate a Trumpian vision of fighting.”
California Ballot measure and Political Context
The online sparring coincides with a political battle over California’s electoral map.Newsom recently secured legislative approval for a November special election to allow voters to redraw the state’s congressional districts, a move framed as a response to Texas’ efforts to gerrymander its maps to favor Republicans.
Pro Tip:
Understanding the context of redistricting is crucial to grasping the full scope of this political maneuver.
Newsom’s press office responded to this progress with a post stating, “NOT EVEN JD ‘JUST DANCE’ VANCE CAN SAVE TRUMP FROM THE DISASTROUS MAPS ‘WAR’ HE HAS STARTED.”
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 2025 | Newsom’s press office begins mimicking Trump’s social media style. |
| August 21, 2025 | California Legislature approves ballot measure for electoral map redrawing. |
| August 22, 2025 | Fox News hosts publicly criticize Newsom’s tactics. |
MSNBC host Joe Scarborough labeled Newsom’s posts as “embarrassing,” but Newsom defended his strategy, arguing that criticism should be directed at Trump’s own social media behavior. He stated, “If you have issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns with what he’s putting out as president.”
what impact will Newsom’s strategy have on the broader political landscape? And will this approach prove to be a sustainable tactic for engaging with opponents?
The use of social media as a political weapon has become increasingly prevalent in recent years. This trend,fueled by the rapid dissemination of data and the ability to directly engage with voters,has fundamentally altered the dynamics of political campaigns and public discourse. The case of Gavin Newsom’s strategy highlights the potential for mirroring an opponent’s tactics to both provoke a reaction and mobilize support. This approach, while controversial, demonstrates a complex understanding of the current media environment and the power of online engagement. The long-term effects of such tactics remain to be seen, but they undoubtedly represent a significant development in the evolution of political communication.
Frequently asked Questions
- What is Gavin Newsom’s strategy on social media? Newsom is intentionally mimicking the social media style of Donald Trump, using similar language and tactics.
- Why is Fox News critical of Newsom’s approach? fox News hosts view Newsom’s tactics as childish and performative, while also highlighting what they perceive as a distraction from his duties as governor.
- Has Newsom’s strategy been accomplished? His X account has seen significant growth in followers and impressions since implementing the new approach.
- What is the context of the California ballot measure? The measure aims to redraw California’s congressional districts in response to redistricting efforts in Texas.
- Is this strategy a common political tactic? While the specific execution is novel, using provocative tactics to engage opponents is a long-standing element of political strategy.
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