President Donald Trump engaged in a candid discussion about California Governor Gavin Newsom during an Oval Office interview with The California Post on Friday. The President shared his views on Newsom's fitness for the presidency and the current state of affairs in California. This conversation follows a series of legal challenges the Trump administration has mounted against California, including lawsuits over sanctuary policies, fraud allegations, and the withdrawal of federal funding.
"I’m amazed Gavin wants to run for office," President Trump stated, questioning Governor Newsom's suitability for the presidency.
President Trump expressed astonishment over Newsom's presidential ambitions, considering what he perceives as the Governor's inadequate governance of California. He said, "I’m amazed Gavin wants to run for office," indicating skepticism about Newsom's qualifications for national leadership. Despite owning a golf course in California, President Trump offered a bleak evaluation of the state's trajectory, contrasting its iconic reputation with its current condition. "People love the dream of California, but they hate what’s happening to them," he commented.
In the interview, President Trump did not hesitate to criticize Newsom's performance directly. "Gavin’s incompetent," he declared, suggesting that California is in dire need of "proper leadership." Despite the President's criticism, Newsom has emerged as a frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. According to RealClearPolitics survey averages, Newsom leads among Democratic voters for the upcoming primary race with 24 percent support, ahead of other prominent Democratic figures.
Governor Newsom has been proactive in establishing a strong social media presence, reminiscent of President Trump's own approach, which has significantly contributed to building his national profile ahead of a potential campaign for the White House. A tweet from Fox News captures President Trump's pointed criticism: "I don’t think Gavin could [pass a cognitive test]. He’s got a good line of crap, but other than that he couldn’t pass."
One particular point of contention President Trump highlighted was California's high-speed rail project, which aims to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco. The project, currently the most expensive train project in U.S. history with a budget of $135 billion, has been a subject of scrutiny and skepticism, especially concerning its cost and progress. Newsom praised the advancements of the rail system in his State of the State address, noting the construction of over 60 miles of guideway in the Central Valley, as well as progress in land acquisition and environmental clearance.
However, President Trump remains unconvinced of the project's prospects, referring to it as "the train to nowhere" and criticizing its cost overruns. He asserted, "It’s the greatest cost run over that I’ve ever seen," and claimed he could have executed the project more efficiently, stating, "I could have built that thing, and I could have built that thing in one year."
The interview reflects the ongoing tension between President Trump's administration and the state of California, with a focus on differing approaches to governance and the evaluation of competency in political leadership.
