Newsom’s Fiery Warning: Trump’s “Authoritarian Tendencies” and America’s Future
In a passionate and alarming address at POLITICO’s California Summit in Sacramento, California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a stark warning about President Donald Trump, characterizing him as an existential threat to American democracy. Newsom, widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential candidate for 2028, didn’t mince words as he condemned what he described as Trump’s “authoritarian tendencies” and raised concerns about the president’s commitment to democratic principles. “You think he’s joking about 2028?” Newsom asked the audience, referring to merchandise being sold by Trump’s organization that hints at a third term, which would violate constitutional term limits. “Wake up. You will lose your country,” he cautioned, suggesting that Trump “doesn’t believe in free, fair elections” and pointing to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots as evidence. This forceful criticism highlights the growing tension between two of America’s most prominent political figures and underscores the deepening polarization in American politics.
The White House quickly dismissed Newsom’s criticisms, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responding that “While Newscum is on a Panican Media Tour, President Trump is delivering win after win for the American people.” This dismissive and personal response reflects the increasingly hostile relationship between Trump and Newsom, which reached a boiling point earlier this summer when Trump took the extraordinary step of federalizing California’s National Guard without Newsom’s approval during immigration protests in Los Angeles. This marked the first time in 60 years a president had deployed a state’s National Guard without gubernatorial consent, setting a precedent that concerns many state rights advocates. Trump has since deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. as part of his administration’s crime reduction efforts and has suggested similar deployments to Baltimore and Chicago, moves that Newsom characterized as further evidence of Trump’s authoritarian approach to governance.
“This is a real and serious moment in U.S. history,” Newsom emphasized, framing his concerns not as partisan talking points but as patriotic warnings. “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 by the president.” Newsom didn’t hold back in his personal assessment of Trump either, describing him as “weakness masquerading as strength” and “simply the most destructive and damaging individual in my lifetime that happens to be the President of the United States.” The governor’s unfiltered criticism comes at a time when many Democratic leaders are wrestling with how to respond to Trump’s unconventional presidency and the significant changes his administration has implemented across multiple policy areas.
The political chess match between Trump and Newsom has extended to redistricting efforts, with the Texas legislature recently passing Trump-backed maps that will create five additional Republican-leaning districts in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of the midterm elections. In response, Newsom has proposed his own redistricting plan for California, aiming to secure five Democrat-leaning House seats to counterbalance the Texas changes. “I’m sick and tired of Democrats being on the losing end in this country, and our democracy being on the losing end. We have got to fight fire with fire,” Newsom declared, signaling a more aggressive approach from Democrats in state-level political strategies. This tit-for-tat redistricting battle illustrates how national political tensions are playing out in state legislatures across the country, with significant implications for control of Congress.
Throughout his nearly hour-long critique of the Trump administration, Newsom conveyed a sense of urgency and frustration, stating he was done “giving a d— about people’s feelings about this moment.” His warnings carried an apocalyptic tone as he insisted, “We’re losing this country in real time. This is not bloviation. This is not an exaggeration. It’s happening.” Perhaps most pointedly, he suggested that under Trump, “the rule of law is being replaced with the rule of Don,” implying that constitutional governance is giving way to personalized power. These statements reflect a growing concern among Trump critics that democratic institutions are being undermined, though Trump supporters would likely characterize these same actions as necessary reforms to an entrenched political system.
The heated exchange between Newsom and Trump exemplifies the deep divisions in American politics and raises profound questions about the future of democratic governance in the United States. While Newsom portrays Trump as a threat to constitutional order, the Trump administration dismisses these concerns as political theater from a governor with presidential ambitions. As the controversy over “Trump 2028” merchandise continues—with Newsom claiming to have received “two dozen ‘Trump 2028’ hats” from Trump’s team—Americans are left to contemplate the boundaries of presidential power and the resilience of democratic institutions. “Who spends $200 million on a ballroom at their home and then leaves the house?” Newsom asked rhetorically, suggesting Trump has no intention of leaving the White House. “This is serious guys. This is serious.” Whether one views Newsom’s warnings as prescient or partisan, they highlight the stakes of the ongoing contest for America’s political future.
