Political decorum didn't just die. It was basically cremated, and Gavin Newsom is currently dancing on the ashes with a smartphone in his hand. If you’ve been on X lately, you might have thought the California Governor’s official press account was hacked by a teenager who drinks too much Prime. It wasn't. It’s actually a calculated, aggressive, and frankly weird strategy of Gavin Newsom trolling Trump by using the former (and current) president’s own favorite weapon: the all-caps, nickname-heavy internet rant.
Honestly, it’s jarring. We are used to Newsom being the slick, hair-gelled "Prince of Policy" who speaks in data points and long-winded sentences about "the California way." But lately? He’s been posting about "TINY HANDS" and calling Fox News hosts "DING DONGS."
The Art of the Mirror: Why Newsom Started Posting in All Caps
In August 2025, something shifted in Sacramento. The Governor’s press office stopped putting out dry statements about water infrastructure and started sounding like a Truth Social fever dream.
The strategy is simple: hold a mirror up to MAGA. Newsom’s team started blasting out posts like: "FOX HATES THAT I AM AMERICA'S FAVORITE GOVERNOR ('RATINGS KING') SAVING AMERICA – WHILE TRUMP CAN'T EVEN CONQUER THE 'BIG' STAIRS ON AIR FORCE ONE ANY MORE!!!"
Is it a midlife crisis or a 2028 audition?
Probably both. Newsom told reporters that he’s tired of "the normalization" of Trump’s rhetoric. He’s basically saying, "If the President gets to call me 'Newscum,' I get to call him out for eating three buckets of KFC with Putin."
✨ Don't miss: Economics Related News Articles: What the 2026 Headlines Actually Mean for Your Wallet
He’s betting that Democrats are tired of "going high" while the other side wins by going low. By mimicking the "unhinged" style of Trump, Newsom has managed to:
- Grow his following by over 325,000 in a single month.
- Dominate the cable news cycle (even if Dana Perino thinks he needs to "put the phone away").
- Position himself as the "De Facto Head of the Resistance" for the 2028 presidential cycle.
The "Perfect Maps" War and Proposition 50
It’s not just about the tweets. The real meat of Gavin Newsom trolling Trump is happening in the legal and electoral arena. In late 2025, Newsom pushed through Proposition 50, a ballot measure that allowed California to redraw its congressional maps specifically to counter Republican redistricting efforts in states like Texas and Missouri.
Newsom called these his "PERFECT BEAUTIFUL MAPS" (a direct jab at Trump’s "perfect" phone calls). He claimed they were "better than Columbus, better than Google Maps."
The goal? To flip the House of Representatives back to Democratic control. It worked—or at least, the voters bought it. Prop 50 passed by a wide margin in November 2025, giving Newsom a massive win to brag about. During his victory speech, he notably shouted, "No crowns, no thrones, no kings!" which is about as subtle as a sledgehammer when you’re talking about a president he frequently calls a "wannabe dictator."
🔗 Read more: Why a Man Hits Girl for Bullying Incidents Go Viral and What They Reveal About Our Breaking Point
The "Patriot Shop" and the Merchandise Mockery
You can’t troll a salesman without attacking his inventory. Newsom recently launched "The Patriot Shop," which is essentially a parody of the Trump Store. Instead of MAGA hats, he’s selling "Real Patriot" gear and tank tops that say "Trump is not hot."
He even posted an AI-generated image of himself as "The Chosen One" surrounded by Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan. It’s absurd. It’s silly. But in 2026, it’s also the most effective way to stay relevant in a 24-hour outrage cycle.
Key Moments in the Newsom vs. Trump Feud (2025-2026)
- The "Crypto Corruption" Website: Newsom launched a site tracking "Trump's Top 10 Criminal Cronies," highlighting pardons and crypto investments.
- The Nobel Peace Prize Post: After Trump was nominated for the Nobel, Newsom’s team posted that he deserved it more because of his "most incredible maps in the history of mapping."
- The "Dementia Don" Gaffe: Critics argue that Newsom’s team went too far when they used the term "Dementia Don," with some saying it’s beneath the dignity of the Governor’s office.
- The $100 Million "Trump-Proofing" Fund: A special legislative session was called to fund lawsuits against the Trump administration’s policies on climate and immigration.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Strategy
A lot of political pundits think Newsom is just being "thin-skinned." They point to his 2007 interviews where he’d walk away from reporters asking about his personal life as evidence that he can’t take a punch.
But this isn't a defensive move. It’s offensive.
💡 You might also like: Why are US flags at half staff today and who actually makes that call?
By engaging in Gavin Newsom trolling Trump, he is forcing the President to respond to him rather than the other way around. Trump has already bit the bait, calling him "Newscum" and threatening to arrest him over the Los Angeles riots response. Every time Trump hits back, Newsom’s fundraising numbers spike.
The Real Risks
It’s not all sunshine and viral tweets. While Newsom is busy being a "Ratings King" on X:
- Federal Funding is at Risk: Trump has threatened to withhold $40 billion in federal disaster relief for California’s wildfires.
- The "Grown-up" Problem: Moderate voters might find the "snowflake emoji" replies and name-calling to be pathetic or "tacky."
- Local Issues: California still faces a massive homelessness crisis and a $4 trillion economy that is under constant pressure. Republicans like James Gallagher are quick to point out that you can't "troll" your way out of a budget deficit.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Landscape
If you're following this political circus, keep these points in mind:
- Watch the Courts, Not Just the Tweets: The "trolling" is the distraction; the $100 million legal fund for the CA Department of Justice is where the actual fighting happens.
- The 2028 Primary has Already Started: Newsom is currently the "unofficial frontrunner" for the next Democratic nomination because he’s the only one willing to get in the mud.
- Redistricting is the Real Key: Keep an eye on how those "Perfect Maps" actually affect the 2026 midterms. If Democrats take the House, Newsom will claim 100% of the credit.
This isn't your parents' politics. It’s a high-stakes game of digital chicken. Newsom is betting that in the age of Trump, the only way to beat a bully is to become an even louder one. Whether that leads to the White House or a complete breakdown of civil discourse remains to be seen.
Next Steps to Track the Newsom-Trump Rivalry:
- Monitor the "Trump Criminals" Website: Check for updates on the Governor's tracker of federal pardons and executive orders.
- Analyze the 2026 Congressional Map Changes: Review the California Citizens Redistricting Commission's final outputs following Proposition 50's implementation.
- Audit the "Patriot Shop" Financials: Look for campaign finance disclosures to see how much of the "trolling" merchandise revenue is being diverted to national PACs versus state-level legal battles.