California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken aim at former First Lady Melania Trump in a cheeky social media stunt, following reports that Vanity Fair attempted to feature her on its magazine cover.
The playful jab comes amid Newsom’s ongoing efforts to mimic Donald Trump’s signature online style.
AI Covers and a Royal Twist
An AI-generated Vanity Fair cover of Melania, which went viral, dubbed her “The American Queen” and included the tagline “Fashion, power & the art of saying.”
In response, Newsom’s team created their own AI artwork, crowning the California governor as “The American King” with the line, “Hair, Gel and the Art of Being So Handsome.”
The parody clearly struck a chord with social media users, with liberal-leaning audiences embracing the humor.
Newsom’s post on X garnered over 40,000 likes by Friday afternoon, demonstrating the success of his new strategy of adopting Trump’s bombastic social media persona.
Vanity Fair’s Offer to Melania
The Daily Mail reported that Vanity Fair’s global editorial director, Mark Guiducci, attempted to court Melania over the summer.
However, staff reportedly balked at the idea, with one editor saying, “I will walk out the motherf***ing door, and half my staff will follow me.
If I have to work bagging groceries at Trader Joe’s, I’ll do it.”
Melania herself reportedly laughed off the proposal and declined the magazine’s pitch back in July.
Reactions From the White House
While many on social media enjoyed the gag, the White House was far less amused.
Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail that Newsom’s stunt was “creepy,” adding, “Congratulations to Gavin Newscum who has gone from weird and not funny to creepy and still not funny.”
Despite the criticism, Newsom’s approach seems to be paying off politically.
A recent Emerson poll showed him leading among Democratic primary voters for the 2028 presidential election, suggesting his Trump-mimicking strategy could be boosting his visibility and appeal.
Expanding the Trump-Style Branding
Newsom has also extended his copycat approach into merchandise.
His new website offers mugs, shirts, and hats reminiscent of Trump’s MAGA products, including a red baseball cap priced at $32 that reads, “Newsom was right about everything!” in a font similar to the iconic MAGA style.
According to Newsom, the online store generated over $100,000 in sales within hours, though those figures have not been independently verified.
Trump Remains Silent
Despite the relentless mockery and the viral coverage, former President Trump has yet to respond directly to Newsom’s antics, instead continuing to refer to the governor by the nickname “Newscum.”
The White House did not provide additional comment when approached by the Daily Mail.
