Democrat Newsom accuses Trump regime of lawfare

Gavin Newsom is the Democrat governor of California and since Donald Trump returned to the White House, he’s made a reputation for himself by aping the posting style of the president. And now, he’s accusing Trump of using lawfare tactics to intimidate him:

Trump makes Newsom a target. Newsom sees a launchpad. https://t.co/MWAwpzOf5M

— POLITICO (@politico) June 16, 2026

Trump and Newsom battle

The following is an example of Newsom ridiculing Trump by mimicking his posting style:

DONALD “TACO” TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, “MISSED” THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE “BEAUTIFUL MAPS,” THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!). BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR…

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 12, 2025

In response, Trump branded him ‘Gavin Newscum’:

Gavin Newscum admitted that he has learning disabilities, dyslexia. Everything about him is dumb.

Speaking about the current situation, Newsom said:

In recent days, federal agents have knocked on the door of family, friends and former employees. Not because they found crime, because they’re simply trying to find one.

To be fair, this is exactly what a criminal would say. At the same time, it’s undeniable that Trump has weaponised his Justice Department in the past, as the Guardian reported in November 2025:

Donald Trump’s intense pressure on the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to charge key foes with crimes based on dubious evidence and his ongoing investigations of other political enemies is hurting the rule of law in the US and violating departmental policies, which scholars and ex-prosecutors say may help scuttle some charges.

While it’s confirmed that there are multiple investigations into Newsom, a source speaking to the BBC denied Trump was involved. They also said the cases:

all originated out of California, working through whistleblowers and government sources

If this is accurate, then these people will have to go on the record. And if the allegations have merit, they must have evidence to back them up. If so, this will be a problem for Newsom. If not, it’s going to give weight to his argument that Trump is a uniquely corrupt force in US politics.

The BBC added:

Federal prosecutors in the state capital of Sacramento were handling the investigations, one of which pertained to Newsom’s wife’s taxes, and another related to Newsom’s former chief of staff, the individual said.

The source did not specify which chief of staff, and Newsom did not say which current or former aides were under scrutiny.

Newsom hits back

As noted above, Newsom is making the most of the attention that this situation is generating:

California Gov. Gavin Newsom slammed Donald Trump, claiming the president is using his office to enrich himself. pic.twitter.com/kmGKj1ufjN

— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) June 15, 2026

In the above clip, Newsom says:

Donald Trump is selling the presidency. He’s running the largest cash heist in American political history, trading foreign tariff relief for approval of his golf courses, day trading behind the Resolute Desk, reaping hundreds of millions of dollars in personal profit. And he’s doing it openly.

He’s doing it on camera. He did it last night on the White House lawn. He’s doing it through cryptocurrencies. He’s doing it through the receipt of a $400 million private jet from a foreign government that he plans to keep when he leaves office.

His personal fortune has skyrocketed by $4 billion since making his return to office.

This is the behavior of a regime, not a republic.

Newsom certainly talks a good game, but his record isn’t great either. Issues with the Democrat include:

• Siding with billionaires to block wealth taxes.
• Selling out workers.
• Backtracking on promises to introduce a universal health system.
• Giving crypto billionaires “free reign”.
• Cracking down on homeless camps without ensuring these people have somewhere else to go.

Expectations

It’s undeniable that Newsom is better than Trump, but that’s the problem, isn’t it? Democrats are going to use Trump’s wretchedness to excuse their own. Because as long as they’re a bit better than Trump, that lets them off the hook from actually changing anything.

At the same time, if this is another case of Trumpian lawfare, then people should oppose it. They just shouldn’t oppose it thinking Newsom is an antidote to the problems which allowed a man like Trump to become president in the first place.

Featured image via Gage Skidmore (Flickr) / UK Government (Flickr)