California Governor Gavin Newsom escalated his long-running feud with President Donald Trump this week, using his trip to Brazil as a stage to mock the administration’s sudden decision to scale back tariffs on key Latin American imports. Speaking from Belém during the COP30 United Nations Climate Change Conference, Newsom openly taunted Trump while taking credit — jokingly or otherwise — for the economic shift.

“WOW! FOLLOWING MY HISTORIC BRAZIL TRIP, ‘DOZY’ DON HAS FINALLY CAVED AND CUT TARIFFS. BEEF AND COFFEE ARE NOW CHEAPER NATIONWIDE,” Newsom’s press team wrote in an ALL-CAPS post on X Friday. “YOU ARE WELCOME!”

The message came just hours after Trump announced changes to tariffs imposed on Brazil in April during the rollout of his controversial “Liberation Day” trade measures. The initial levies targeted a broad array of imported goods, including agricultural products central to Brazil’s economy such as beef, coffee, cocoa, and fruit. Trump later raised the tariffs in retaliation for what he called “unfair persecution” of his ally, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro.

But on Friday, in a rare reversal, Trump eliminated the 40 percent duty on several agricultural goods, though a 10 percent base tariff remains. The rollback follows months of criticism from business groups, economists, and even some Republican lawmakers who argued the tariffs contributed to higher food prices across the U.S.

Newsom wasted no time seizing the moment, connecting the timing of his Brazil trip with Trump’s announcement — regardless of whether the connection was real. “IT IS SAD IT TOOK DON THIS LONG TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I, GAVIN ‘LOWER THE PRICES’ NEWSOM, KNEW ALL ALONG,” he continued. “NO MORE TARIFFS (TAXES) FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!!! STOP THE TAX! STOP THE SCAM! YOU’RE WELCOME, AMERICA!”

The post is part of a broader strategy Newsom has used in recent months: mimicking Trump’s bombastic online persona to needle the president and capture attention across social media platforms. This includes adopting Trump-style nicknames like “Dozy Don” for the president and “JD ‘Just Dance’ Vance” for Vice President JD Vance, as well as crafting exaggerated boasts and dramatic claims formatted in Trumpian ALL CAPS.

The strategy appears intentionally provocative. While Newsom and Trump have clashed for years, the hostility has intensified since Trump’s second inauguration, with the California governor emerging as one of the most visible national political figures criticizing the administration’s policies.

During his COP30 remarks in Brazil, Newsom used the global climate summit as another platform to go after Trump, a long-standing climate change skeptic who did not attend the event. Newsom accused the president of sabotaging environmental progress while simultaneously weakening the U.S. economy with what he called “reckless tariffs masquerading as patriotism.”

Trump’s decision to roll back Brazil tariffs highlights a political dilemma for the administration. While the president continues to defend his trade policies as necessary to protect American workers, economists and consumer advocates argue that tariffs have driven up prices, contributing to widespread voter anxiety over affordability. With grocery and household costs remaining high, Trump has faced growing pressure to address the issue before the 2026 midterms.

Newsom’s attempt to frame the tariff rollback as his own victory is consistent with his emerging persona as one of Trump’s most outspoken critics. Beyond mocking Trump personally — recently referring to him as a “son of a b—h” in a podcast appearance — Newsom has also adopted merchandising strategies reminiscent of the MAGA movement. He recently began selling hats emblazoned with the slogan: “Newsom was right about everything!”

The California governor’s online approach has drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters say he is effectively using Trump’s own communication style against him in a way that resonates with voters who live on social media. Critics, however, argue that Newsom risks lowering himself to Trump’s level and contributing to an already toxic political discourse.

For Trump, the tariff reversal is already receiving significant attention. While he has insisted the changes are part of a long-planned adjustment, critics see the rollback as a concession in the face of economic pressure and voter frustration. Newsom’s loud, troll-like victory lap adds a political layer to the administration’s economic challenge — framing Trump’s move as weak, reactive, and influenced by a rival’s posturing.

As the feud between the two men intensifies, their contrasting styles — Trump’s combative nationalism versus Newsom’s slick, sarcastic liberalism — are increasingly defining the political tone of the country’s warring factions.

With both men continuing to dominate the national conversation, their rivalry is likely to remain one of the most visible — and most theatrical — political clashes heading into 2026.