Vice President J.D. Vance didn’t hold back Thursday when asked about California Governor Gavin Newsom’s rising national profile — accusing the Democrat of trying (and failing) to copy President Donald Trump’s bombastic style.
Appearing on The Will Cain Show on Fox News, Vance dismissed Newsom’s recent all-caps social media posts and theatrical rhetoric as a cheap political performance.
“You said he’s mimicking Donald Trump, and I think that’s exactly right,” Vance said. “The lesson of President Trump in American politics is you’ve got to be authentic to yourself. When I see Gavin Newsom trying to act like Donald Trump, that’s the opposite of authenticity.”
Vance didn’t stop there. He painted Newsom as a hollow figure lacking a clear identity of his own, suggesting the California governor is more interested in imitation than leadership.
“He’s not trying to be Gavin Newsom — whoever that is,” Vance continued. “He’s trying to be a fake carbon copy of Donald Trump, and it just doesn’t work. You can’t mimic the king. You can’t mimic the master.”
“You ought to just go and be yourself,” he added. “I think the American people would like that a lot more than a cheap imitation of the President of the United States.”
Newsom Adopts Trumpian Tone — And Admits Democratic “Weakness”
Newsom, for his part, has increasingly leaned into a confrontational tone on social media, echoing the distinct digital style that Trump utilized long before he ran for office after acknowledging his own party’s vulnerability heading into 2026.
During an interview Wednesday, the California governor openly admitted that Democrats are facing a “weakness” problem — one that could hurt them with undecided voters in a political climate that now favors strength over nuance.
Newsom cited former President Bill Clinton’s post-mortem on the 2002 midterms, recalling Clinton’s warning that voters often prefer a candidate who is “strong and wrong” over one who appears “weak and right.”
“That’s still true today,” Newsom said. “We’re not always perceived as fighters, and that’s hurting us.”
Democrats Reeling from 2024 Losses, GOP Gains Momentum
Newsom’s comments come amid a turbulent year for the Democratic Party. After a bruising 2024 election cycle, Democrats have seen historic declines in party support, particularly among working-class and independent voters.
According to recent data, Republican party registration is at its highest level in over two decades, as noted by CNN analyst Harry Enten, while Democrats have struggled to unify behind a post-Biden message that resonates with the broader electorate.
Amid this identity crisis, voices like Newsom’s have pushed for a more aggressive and assertive tone. But Vance’s criticism reflects a broader skepticism that Democrats can successfully adopt Trump’s populist, combative style without alienating their base or exposing their own ideological contradictions.
The Bigger Picture
As speculation swirls over 2028 presidential hopefuls, both Vance and Newsom appear to be positioning themselves as standard-bearers for their respective visions of American leadership.
For Vance, authenticity — and loyalty to Trump — remains the litmus test. For Newsom, the challenge is convincing voters that Democrats can effectively fight fire with fire and come up with their own ideas.
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Everything Newsone does is CHEAP[ IMMITATION – BEING HONEST IS BUT ONE.