Gavin Newsom’s official, taxpayer-funded press office account on X, @GovPressOffice, has gained a little notoriety for lamely attempting to mock Donald Trump and issuing petulant, juvenile statements on a regular basis. They often go beyond the bounds of decency — for instance, they once not so subtly implied that White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was like a member of the notorious Schutzstaffel, otherwise known as Hitler’s SS — and their posts often read like they were written by Beavis and Butt‑Head rather than well-paid professionals.
On Thursday, however, Newsom sold his team down the river and contradicted their message, which, I remind you, is the official position of the governor’s office. Things might get a little frosty over there in Sacramento.
It happened when he had conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro on his show, and Ben took it right to him.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom walked back a social media post from his press office under pressure from Ben Shapiro on Thursday, agreeing with Shapiro that it was “fair” to say ICE officers are “not terrorists.”
During a conversation between Newsom and Shapiro on the This is Gavin Newsom podcast, Shapiro grilled the governor about a post his press office made following the ICE shooting of Renee Good, which simply read, “STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM.”
Just like Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Newsom’s team is ramping up the inciting rhetoric to 11. But asked to stand by his team’s description, Gavin didn’t have the gumption to stand up for what his own office was spewing:
“Your press office tweeted out that it was state-sponsored terrorism, which, I mean governor, I just have to ask you about that. That sort of thing makes our politics worse, and it does,” said Shapiro, to which Newsom responded, “Yeah.”
Shapiro continued, “Our ICE officers obviously are not terrorists. A tragic situation is not state-sponsored terrorism.”
“Yeah, I think that’s fair,” agreed Newsom.
Profiles in courage? Not so much:
.@GavinNewsom WALKS BACK calling ICE operations "state-sponsored terrorism":
— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) January 16, 2026
Shapiro: Your press office said it was "state-sponsored terrorism."
Newsom: "Yeah..."
Shapiro: "Our ICE officers obviously are not terrorists…"
Newsom: "Yeah, I think that's fair." pic.twitter.com/ltjehS6ZVJ
Newsom may admit that Shapiro's point is "fair," but the odious tweet is still live as of this writing:
STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM.
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 8, 2026
GOLDEN STATE NIGHTMARE: Gavin Newsom Goes Too Far, Compares Stephen Miller to an SS Agent—Hitler's Notorious 'Schutzstaffel'
Trump to California, Newsom: You're 'More Corrupt Than Minnesota,' and We're Coming for You
One can’t help but be reminded of another glaring example of Newsom’s hypocrisy, and again, it was on his podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom. Talking with the late great Charlie Kirk, the elegantly coiffed governor admitted in March that biological males playing in women’s sports was simply wrong:
I think it’s an issue of fairness, I completely agree with you on that. It is an issue of fairness — it’s deeply unfair.
What did he do following that admission? Nothing. Zero, zilch, nada. Meanwhile, boys continued to play against girls in the Golden State, robbing countless females of medals and scholarships, while he sat silent.
After admitting to me that men in women’s sports was a “deeply unfair,” Gavin Newsom is turning his back on common sense and instead retreating to the fanatical left. His new lawsuit against the Trump DOJ claims banning boys from girls sports causes “serious harm” to transgender… pic.twitter.com/HWS1vtyZOu
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 11, 2025
His new lawsuit against the Trump DOJ claims banning boys from girls sports causes “serious harm” to transgender students, while completely ignoring the far greater harm suffered by women when men intrude on their bathrooms, locker rooms, and sporting competitions.
This isn’t “inclusion,” it’s ideology over reality. And fortunately for us, this ideology is profoundly unpopular.
What do these two episodes tell you? 1) Don’t get in a foxhole with Gavin Newsom. When the bullets start flying, he’ll use you as a shield. Can’t imagine his press office is feeling too positive about now. 2) The man has no principle. Whichever way the wind is blowing, that’s the way he’ll turn. Boys in girls’ sports? Why that’s terrible, while I’m in this room — but when I walk into the next, I’ll say something completely different.
He’d make a good AI chatbot, though. You could train him very quickly to say whatever you want, especially if you have money to donate.
Editor’s Note: Gavin Newsom wants to turn America into one big version of California - a failed, overtaxed, dystopian nightmare.
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