California Governor Gavin Newsom didn’t mince words Monday as he launched a searing attack on President Donald Trump during a blunt and emotional interview with right-wing podcaster Shawn Ryan. What began as a conversation about gun safety turned into a blistering tirade against Trump’s insults, lies, and authoritarian tactics.
At the heart of the storm is Trump’s repeated use of the nickname “Gavin Newscum,” a moniker that Newsom says has moved beyond politics and begun to impact his family—particularly his young children. “How do I explain that to my kid?” he asked, visibly frustrated. “I got my kid’s friends calling my kid ‘Newscum.’ That I get because I was called that in seventh grade, but not by a 79-year-old man sitting in the White House.”
Newsom called the president a “son of a b****,” unapologetically. “I don’t like bullies,” he said. “It triggers me. I don’t like people talking down to others, exploiting weakness. That’s what I don’t like about this son of a b****. And forgive me, I know he’s the president, but come on.”
The clash between the two men is not new. It traces back years, but tensions have escalated during Trump’s second term, particularly after the president deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles without alerting Newsom beforehand. The deployment came amid ICE raids and mass protests in Camarillo, and the California governor believes the federal move only worsened the unrest.
Newsom said he had spoken with Trump the night before the deployment and was blindsided. “Not one f****** word on the topic,” he said, still incredulous. “He completely lied about that conversation and totally surprised me with the National Guard.”
In early June, Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, calling the federal action an “illegal and unnecessary takeover” of a CalGuard unit. The lawsuit is just one of several flashpoints between the California government and the White House in recent months.
Newsom also directed his fury at Trump allies like Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, whom he called “a son of a b**** in every goddamn campus in progressive parts of the country.” He accused Kirk of downplaying serious conversations, such as those related to the Epstein case and Trump’s possible involvement.
On social media, Newsom has also been fighting back. In a now-viral X post, he wrote: “Trump calls me ‘Newscum’ — but he’s the real scum,” responding to a KTLA5 video of suspected ICE targets fleeing tear gas in Camarillo.
But for Newsom, the issue isn’t just personal. He believes the Trump administration is using its second term as a “petri dish” to push the boundaries of executive power in dangerous and destructive ways. “They want to see just how far they can go,” he said. “It’s not about public safety. It’s about domination.”
While some political analysts have speculated that Newsom may be posturing for a 2028 run, the governor insisted his current focus is on fighting injustice—particularly when it reaches into schools, neighborhoods, and his own home. “Model better goddamn behavior,” he told Trump directly. “Forgive the goddamn — it’s just what I don’t like about him.”
The White House has not yet responded to Newsom’s remarks, though political insiders believe the feud is far from over.
With Senate Republicans moving to back Trump on increasingly extreme policies—ranging from ICE crackdowns to media defunding—the ideological divide between state and federal leadership continues to widen. And as Newsom’s voice rises louder in the national conversation, it’s clear he’s no longer holding back.
“This ends,” Newsom said, “when it stops getting attention.”
But as of now, that moment is nowhere in sight.
