Overview

• Newsom unveiled the Patriot Shop on Aug. 24 with an all-caps X post, offering MAGA-style items including a red hat, a “Trump is not hot” tank, and a $100 “Holy Bible” widely reported as sold out.
• Sales claims escalated from Newsom’s own posts citing $50,000 within hours to more than $100,000 the same day, and GQ reported a spokesperson’s figure of $300,000 in the first 24 hours.
• The exact revenue and whether any Bibles were actually sold remain unclear, with at least one outlet noting the governor’s team would not confirm Bible sales.
• The site states purchases count as donations to Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy, and independent reporting identifies Texas-based Bright Blue Ink as administering the store.
• Republican commentators, including Fox News hosts, criticized the stunt as performative, while Newsom says the approach mirrors Trump’s style to push back during concurrent redistricting and legal fights.