Staff Reports
California Governor Gavin Newsom has wasted no time in positioning himself as the self-appointed leader of a so-called resistance to President-elect Donald Trump’s impending second term. It’s as if he believes that his state, which gave Trump a respectable 40% of the vote, is his personal fiefdom that can make up its own rules and ignore the will of a significant chunk of its residents.
Newsom seems intent on calling on the California legislature to “Trump-proof” the state, essentially a misguided attempt to thwart any policies that might come out of a Trump administration. Despite his bluster, it’s clear he’s feeling the heat after Trump’s impressive performance nationwide, winning crucial swing states while pushing Democrats into the corners. Newsom has resurrected the rhetoric of the “resistance,” attempting to turn California into a bastion of liberal defiance against a decisively elected leader.
Not if we can help newsom has destroyed California and must be crushed before he has a chance to destroy America Nobody in their right mind would vote for this guyhttps://t.co/kXflHdXM3D
— Todd T. Simon (@toddTsimon) November 7, 2024
In what can only be described as a desperate show of bravado, Newsom’s call to action aims at “protecting” California from any federal action he deems unlawful. His emergency special session is nothing more than a colorful response to a political climate that doesn’t favor his party’s agenda. He claims that fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, and climate action are at stake, conveniently ignoring the fact that Californians just showed significant support for Trump’s vision for the country.
President Trump didn’t hesitate to fire back on Truth Social, stating that Newsom’s antics are harmful to California. Recent statistics actually reveal more residents are leaving the Golden State than moving in, which speaks volumes about Newsom’s governance. Trump’s comments about Newsom underscored the governor’s reluctance to embrace the positive changes that could lead to a revitalization of California, instead opting for a strategy of roadblocks cloaked in grandiose language.
The real question hanging over this political circus is whether Newsom is positioning himself for a run in 2028. With the Democratic Party in disarray after a punishing defeat, especially for Kamala Harris, some ambitious politicians are eyeing their chance to seize the spotlight. While Newsom, along with many of his party members, backed Joe Biden’s struggling re-election campaign, the fallout from that disaster appears to have spurred his eyes towards future prospects. If Newsom is itching for a presidential bid, he might want to reflect on the lessons learned from the recent elections instead of engaging in a performative resistance that only serves to alienate more moderate voters.
