Gavin Newsom’s Social Media Takes Aim at Trump’s Reign and Democrats

Dwelling on Trump's dangers feels like contemplating mortality—unsettling yet ever-present. Newsom's social media mocks offer catharsis.

August 22, 2025

Political Tensions Rise as Trump Gains Ground

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The political landscape remains tense as Donald Trump’s influence continues to grow, creating an unsettling atmosphere reminiscent of contemplating one’s own mortality. Amidst this, paramilitary forces are visible on city streets, and reports emerge of immigrants being detained in facilities reminiscent of gulags. While Democratic leaders appear passive, this inaction has led to a sense of hopelessness among voters, as highlighted in a recent poll.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s social media activity, which frequently targets Trump, provides a sense of relief to some. Though it doesn’t halt Trump’s influence, it serves as a symbolic act of defiance.

Such outspoken posts were unthinkable just a year ago. In 2021, I joined a D.C. firm to manage social media for Democratic candidates, having previously worked on Tom Steyer’s presidential campaign. At the time, Republicans were aggressively targeting figures like Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson with baseless claims, including accusations of leniency towards child porn offenders, as noted in a Washington Post article.

Despite my efforts to create impactful social media content, many candidates opted for a more reserved approach, dismissing my proposals as too harsh. After many of these candidates faced defeat, I was let go.

While Newsom’s tweets alone won’t transform the political landscape, they might inspire Democrats to reconsider their communication strategies. Elie Mystal, writing in The Nation, emphasized the power of small acts of resistance, stating, “I know these kinds of individualized, person-to-person acts of political and social resistance work… because it’s what the bad guys do.”

This approach might be what Newsom is aiming for, potentially sparking a new chapter for the Democratic Party in response to Trump’s influence.

ICYMI

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently criticized a portion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, describing it as a “backdoor for privatizing Social Security.” Given the program’s significance in supporting 16.3 million Americans aged 65 and older, changes to Social Security have traditionally been a sensitive topic in U.S. politics.

American Journal News reached out to 31 of the 35 House Republicans considered vulnerable in 2026 for their stance on Bessent’s claims but received no responses.

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Senator Susan Collins of Maine remains the only Republican Senator from a state Trump lost in 2024. Democrats hoping to regain control of the Senate may focus on her seat. One contender, Graham Platner, a combat veteran and oysterman, recently launched his campaign, advocating for universal healthcare and criticizing billionaires in his promotional video.

Platner’s communications team includes consultants who have worked with notable Democrats like Zohran Mamdani and Dan Osborn. Watch the video here!