California Governor Gavin Newsom has found a new way to wage political war: trolling former President Donald Trump on social media.
Using his @GovPressOffice account, Newsom has embraced a bold, Trump-like style, posting viral images, sharp commentary, and playful jabs that mimic the former president’s signature approach.
Social Media Strategy Goes Viral
Since the beginning of August, Newsom’s account has exploded in popularity, gaining more than 250,000 followers and generating over 225 million impressions.
Managed by a small team of four or five aides, the account has become a key tool in Newsom’s political messaging—blending humor, imagery, and direct jabs to capture attention.
Steve Bannon Notes Newsom’s “Trumpian Fight”
Even Trump’s longtime strategist Steve Bannon has taken notice.
In an interview with Politico, he praised Newsom for adopting a combative style reminiscent of Trump.
“People in the MAGA movement and the America First movement should start paying attention to this, because it’s not going to go away,” Bannon said. “They’re only going to get more intense.”
He added, “He’s no Trump, but within the Democratic Party, he’s standing out as someone organizing a fight that feels winnable.”
Viral Posts and Bold Imagery
Newsom’s social posts have featured everything from AI-enhanced images of himself on Mount Rushmore to photos depicting him being prayed over by late Hulk Hogan, complete with a halo and angel wings.
He even included cultural figures like Tucker Carlson and Kid Rock in these viral stunts.
In one post, a user called the Hulk Hogan image “very disrespectful and blasphemous,” prompting @GovPressOffice to respond with lighthearted defiance.
Another viral moment involved resharing a White House post of Trump depicted as the Pope, followed by the cheeky apology: “oops our bad, sorry. meant to post this.”
Mimicking Trump’s Style
Newsom hasn’t stopped at images. He’s adopted Trump’s all-caps style for emphatic screeds, taking jabs at celebrities like Kid Rock and Taylor Swift, mirroring the former president’s online antics.
He has also targeted media figures, most notably Dana Perino, mocking her on X after she criticized his online approach.
“DANA ‘DING DONG’ PERINO (NEVER HEARD OF HER UNTIL TODAY!) IS MELTING DOWN BECAUSE OF ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM!” the post read.
Changing Strategy Amid National Crises
Newsom says his social media pivot wasn’t just about humor—it was a response to misrepresentations of events in California, including the Los Angeles fires and federalized National Guard deployments to quell protests.
“Yes, I’ve changed. The facts have changed. We need to change,” he told Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Calling Trump “an invasive species,” Newsom noted that the former president is “unmoored; there are no constraints.”
Democrats See a Bright Spot
For the Democratic Party, Newsom’s bold and experimental social media tactics are a rare win.
Andrew Bates, a former spokesperson for President Biden, told the Daily Mail that Newsom’s approach represents the kind of “guts and experimentation that needs to replace timidity and over-testing.”
As the 2028 election looms, Newsom’s strategy of mixing humor, viral imagery, and direct confrontation with Trump has put him in the spotlight—and his team seems determined to keep the momentum going.
