Gavin Newsom, the slick-haired governor of California, appears to be testing a new strategy in his long-rumored national ambitions: tweeting like Donald Trump. Yes, really. The newest press account tied to Newsom is filled with sharp jabs, soundbite barbs, and the unmistakable cadence of Trump-style online combat. But here’s the problem: being a knock-off never sells like the original — especially when the original is still very much on the scene.
Perino: You have to stop at with the Twitter thing. If I were his wife, I would say you are making a fool of yourself, stop it… He’s got a big job as governor of California but if he wants an even bigger job, he has to be a little more serious. pic.twitter.com/Vi8eifx4pb
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 18, 2025
Dana Perino, a voice of reason in political commentary, offered a warning on this exact point. Newsom, she noted, is playing with a dangerous illusion — the idea that he can co-opt Trump’s tone without the authenticity behind it. That’s a crucial distinction. Trump’s communication style, as polarizing as it may be, resonates because it’s unmistakably, unapologetically him. It’s not a costume; it’s a character he’s played for decades. Voters smell a fake from a mile away, and when a polished, coastal liberal suddenly tries his hand at MAGA-style blunt force rhetoric, it lands awkwardly — more like performance art than political punch.
Love that every Democrats’ response is this obvious point is “what about Trump’s twitter!”
That’s the point.
Dems brand is absolute trash, there’s no leader, and the guy with the best shot is spending ALL his time doing a dime-store impression of the guy they say is Hitler. https://t.co/dno6Z8o5Lf
— Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) August 18, 2025
This isn’t just a style misfire. It’s a strategic miscalculation. Newsom isn’t running against Trump. If and when he does run — whether in 2028 or sooner — he’s more likely to face someone from a new political chapter, not an echo of the last one. Mimicking Trump in that context isn’t just outdated; it’s irrelevant.
Perino: You have to stop at with the Twitter thing. If I were his wife, I would say you are making a fool of yourself, stop it… He’s got a big job as governor of California but if he wants an even bigger job, he has to be a little more serious. pic.twitter.com/Vi8eifx4pb
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 18, 2025
And still, the sycophants came to Gavin’s defense with the usual chorus: “Well, Trump does it.” Exactly. Trump does it — and it works for him. The point, lost in the noise, is that emulation without essence isn’t persuasive. It’s embarrassing.
Perino: You have to stop at with the Twitter thing. If I were his wife, I would say you are making a fool of yourself, stop it… He’s got a big job as governor of California but if he wants an even bigger job, he has to be a little more serious. pic.twitter.com/Vi8eifx4pb
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 18, 2025
Newsom may have believed that charm, camera presence, and a California résumé would open the gates to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But if snarky tweets and borrowed bravado are all he’s bringing to the table, he’s in for a rude awakening.
