Democrats, Stop Clutching Pearls: Gavin Newsom’s Trolling Is Exactly What We Need

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is catching heat. Not from MAGA world—they’ve always hated him—but from some liberals who claim his trolling of Donald Trump is beneath the dignity of a governor. They roll their eyes at the “TACO Trump” posts, they cringe at the “Tiny Hands” digs, and they complain that politics should be “serious.”

To which I ask: serious compared to what? Trump’s entire political career has been built on childish nicknames, insults, and lies. When he’s not whipping up mobs, he’s rage-posting like a bitter ex. Yet somehow, Democrats are supposed to respond with polite statements and footnotes? Spare me.

Is He Worse Than Trump? Really?

Let’s be clear. Criticism of Newsom from the left feels eerily familiar—it’s the same nitpicking and pearl-clutching we saw aimed at Kamala Harris. People called her “too ambitious,” “too brash,” or said she “rubbed voters the wrong way.” And where did that get us? An America where the GOP is openly rewriting democracy and the Supreme Court is rubber-stamping authoritarian moves.

So when liberals wring their hands over Newsom’s trolling, I have to ask: is he worse than Trump? Obviously not. Is he perfect? No politician is. But right now, he’s the only Democratic governor using Trump’s own language against him—and winning the attention war.

The Bigger Picture: We May Not Get Another “Normal” Election

Here’s the darker truth: we may never have another real presidential election. Between Trump’s loyalists rewriting election laws, gerrymandering congressional districts, and federal agencies threatening states over “sanctuary” policies, the system itself is being rigged past the point of recognition.

That’s why Newsom’s trolling matters. It isn’t just entertainment. His posts about “BEAUTIFUL MAPS” and “ENDING THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY” are tied to California’s aggressive counter-redistricting push—a real strategy to claw back Democratic seats after Texas Republicans sliced up their own maps to tilt power. It’s substance wrapped in satire. And if it works, it could help save the House.

Why Other Democratic Governors Need to Step Up

Most Democratic governors are fighting Trump with lawsuits and legislation. That’s good, but it’s not enough. Lawsuits don’t trend. Court filings don’t energize a base. And “strongly worded statements” don’t puncture the myth of Trump’s strongman image.

Newsom has proven that mockery works. He’s dragging Trump into the absurd spotlight where his bluster collapses into parody. If Gretchen Whitmer, Wes Moore, and Kathy Hochul joined him, we’d have a chorus of governors laughing at the emperor with no clothes instead of whispering politely about norms.

Let Him Run Amok

So yes, let Gavin run amok. Let him troll, let him roast, let him go full meme-lord if that’s what it takes. Because at the very least, he’s showing the country that Democrats don’t have to play nice while democracy burns. He’s reminding people that resistance can be funny, sharp, and strategic.

The alternative—silence, politeness, or another round of “we go high”—hasn’t exactly worked out for us. If this is the last stretch before the lights go out on fair elections, I’d rather go down swinging, laughing, and yes, redrawing districts.