California Governor Gavin Newsom has confirmed he is seriously considering a run for the White House in 2028 after the 2026 midterm elections, actively raising his national profile and engaging in a combative style against Donald Trump.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a leading Democratic critic of President Donald Trump, has stated he will consider running for the White House in 2028 following the midterm elections next year. In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” the term-limited governor admitted, “I’d be lying otherwise,” when asked about seriously considering a campaign after the November 2026 vote. Newsom has been actively working to elevate his national profile, adopting a combative approach that mimics Trump’s social media tactics, complete with all-caps posts, memes, and merchandise. He has engaged in public disputes with Trump over issues such as the deployment of the California National Guard during immigration protests and Trump’s redistricting efforts in Texas. In response, Newsom spearheaded a campaign, Proposition 50, to redraw California’s maps to potentially add five Democratic U.S. House seats. He characterized Trump as an “invasive species” and a “wrecking ball,” criticizing him for “wrecking alliances, truth, trust, tradition, institutions.” Earlier this year, Newsom launched a podcast aimed at branding himself as a centrist, featuring conversations with a wide array of political figures from across the spectrum, including the late conservative Charlie Kirk, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
