Particle.news
Download on the App Store
33 ARTICLES
·
4h ago

Trump Hits Back as Newsom’s All-Caps Trolling Strategy Gains Traction

Fresh metrics indicate the approach is elevating his national profile.

Illustration of a pixellated Gavin Newsom wearing meme-style sunglasses
Vice President JD Vance speaks during the 61st Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2025 in Munich, Germany (left) and California Governor Gavin Newsom speaking about the “Election Rigging Response Act” at a press conference at the Democracy Center, Japanese American National Museum on August 14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California (right).

Overview

  • President Trump posted on Truth Social using his old 'Newscum' nickname for Gavin Newsom and promised to 'save California,' drawing a GovPressOffice reply within nine minutes with snowflake emojis.
  • Vice President J.D. Vance dismissed the tactic on Fox News as an inauthentic attempt to mimic Trump after Newsom labeled him 'Just Dance Vance' in recent posts.
  • Newsom’s press office account has added more than 250,000 followers since early August and increased followers by roughly 450% since June, while Google searches for Newsom are up about 1,300% since June 1, according to CNN’s Harry Enten.
  • Playbook reporting says a small rapid-response team, including communications director Izzy Gardon and digital director Camille Zapata, runs the @GovPressOffice account, and Newsom’s office says he directs the effort.
  • The campaign has split reactions, with Fox hosts and White House communications director Steven Cheung attacking the posts, as analysts like CNN’s Enten and Trump ally Steve Bannon say the strategy shows effectiveness or merits attention.