California Governor Gavin Newsom’s attempt to score political points at the expense of President Donald Trump has backfired dramatically, drawing widespread ridicule and backlash across social media.
What was meant to be a pointed critique of Trump’s leadership turned into a humiliating spectacle for Newsom, as users across the political spectrum mocked his comments and resurfaced some of his most embarrassing moments as governor.
The Post That Started the Storm
Over the weekend, Newsom took to X (formerly Twitter) to lash out at Trump amid the ongoing government shutdown, accusing him of indifference toward Americans in need.
“Donald Trump is literally dancing in Asia while 40 million people lose access to food,” Newsom wrote, linking to an article from The Hill discussing the potential expiration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding if Congress failed to reach a spending agreement.
Newsom’s post was intended to highlight what he characterized as Republican negligence in protecting low-income Americans. However, his attack on Trump quickly collapsed under the weight of his own record. Within minutes, users began flooding the comments section, turning the governor’s moral outrage back on him.
Hypocrisy and the French Laundry Scandal
The first wave of criticism focused on the governor’s infamous 2020 dinner at the French Laundry, an elite Napa Valley restaurant where Newsom was photographed dining maskless with lobbyists during the height of COVID-19 restrictions.
The incident became a national symbol of political hypocrisy, with many Californians still bitter over the lockdown double standard.
One user, Kevin Dalton, posted a now-viral reply featuring a photo of Newsom at the French Laundry, captioned: “This you, Gavo? Gavin Newsom literally dined at French Laundry after he locked 40 million Californians in their homes. Disgusting.” The reply gained tens of thousands of likes within hours.
Donald Trump is literally dancing in Asia while 40 million people lose access to food.
Disgusting. https://t.co/lEyXKVk7aU— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 26, 2025
Other users piled on, reminding Newsom that his self-inflicted scandals have repeatedly undermined his credibility. “The guy who ruined small businesses, fled the state during wildfires, and lectured us about masks is talking about Trump dancing?” wrote one commenter.
Revisiting the Asia Trip Fiasco
Adding to the backlash was a flood of memes recalling Newsom’s own trip to Asia in 2023, where he joined Chinese students for a friendly basketball game in Beijing — only to collide with a child, knock him down, and awkwardly pat him on the back in an attempt to recover.
The video resurfaced almost instantly. One reply read: “I remember your trip to Asia, Governor. At least Trump didn’t tackle any kids.” Another added mockingly, “Trump is signing peace and trade deals in Asia. Presidential things — something you’ll never know.”
Clips of the incident circulated widely under the hashtags #GavinFalls and #BasketballDiplomacyFail, amplifying the ridicule.
The SNAP Funding Debate
Behind the viral chaos lies a serious policy debate. The controversy centers on the Department of Agriculture’s announcement that it would not release contingency funds for SNAP if the shutdown extends beyond October 31.
The USDA’s emergency reserves — roughly $5 to $6 billion — were established to support low-income families during natural disasters, not political stalemates.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins defended the decision, arguing that Democrats have the power to end the shutdown by approving the Republican-led spending bill. “The law restricts the use of those funds to genuine emergencies,” Rollins said. “This is not one of them. The Senate can act today if it chooses.”
Democrats, however, contend that withholding those funds is both illegal and immoral. They claim the administration is using hunger as leverage to force concessions from Senate Democrats.
This you, Gavo? https://t.co/ZkH2WnPl6g
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) October 26, 2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson weighed in, accusing Democrats of manufacturing the crisis. “We have lots of SNAP recipients in our state, as we do across the nation,” Johnson said. “To hold these families hostage for political gain is unconscionable.”
Newsom’s Misstep
Rather than addressing the legislative standoff directly, Newsom chose to personalize the issue by targeting Trump, who was overseas at the time attending a trade and diplomacy summit in Asia.
His attempt to tie Trump’s appearance at a foreign event to domestic food insecurity was widely criticized as desperate and tone-deaf.
Even some Democrats admitted privately that the post was a mistake. “He overreached,” one California political strategist said. “Instead of sticking to the policy argument, he made it about Trump and opened himself up to ridicule. It was a self-inflicted wound.”
Conservative commentators were quick to capitalize on the blunder. “Newsom just reminded everyone why he’s America’s most unserious governor,” wrote one columnist. “He tried to attack Trump and ended up reminding people of his hypocrisy, his vanity, and his failures.”
Memes and Mockery
Social media users wasted no time turning the incident into a full-blown meme festival. One viral image featured the “Eric Andre Show” meme where the host shoots another character, labeled “Senate Democrats,” before turning to the camera to blame “Trump” — captioned, “Look at what Trump is doing to the poors!”
Another meme showed side-by-side images of Trump dancing at a rally and Newsom at the French Laundry, with the caption: “One fed Americans. The other fed himself.”
Humor aside, the wave of mockery exposed a growing skepticism toward Newsom’s attempts to portray himself as a national leader capable of challenging Trump in the future.
I remember your trip to Asia pic.twitter.com/B3jm9dYkIl
— Dr. Richard Harambe (@Richard_Harambe) October 26, 2025
Political Fallout
Analysts say Newsom’s latest gaffe could hurt his long-term ambitions. The California governor has been widely seen as a potential presidential contender should President Biden choose not to run again. However, incidents like this reinforce a perception of political arrogance and poor judgment.
“Every time Newsom tries to attack Trump, it blows up in his face,” said political analyst Jenna Black. “He’s articulate and telegenic, but he’s also thin-skinned and out of touch with regular Americans. People see through it.”
Polls show that Newsom’s approval ratings in California have slipped slightly in recent months, reflecting frustration over persistent issues such as homelessness, crime, and high living costs. His critics argue that his focus on national politics distracts from the problems in his own state.
The Broader Narrative
The backlash against Newsom fits a broader pattern in American politics: Democrats who attack Trump often find themselves on the defensive. Trump’s ability to absorb criticism and redirect attention to his opponents’ flaws remains one of his defining political strengths.
“He’s like Teflon,” one Republican strategist said. “Every insult bounces off him and sticks to the person who threw it.”
By mocking Trump instead of addressing the shutdown directly, Newsom gave his opponents a perfect opportunity to turn the conversation against him. What could have been a critique of Republican policy instead became a viral reminder of Newsom’s own missteps.
Supporters Try Damage Control
Newsom’s team has attempted to shift the narrative, arguing that his post was meant to draw attention to the human cost of the shutdown. “Governor Newsom’s focus is on families who are going to lose their food assistance, not political theatrics,” a spokesperson said. “He’s passionate about protecting the most vulnerable, and that’s what his comments were about.”
But by Monday morning, the damage was already done. The replies under his original post had surpassed ten thousand, most of them mocking or condemning him.
— And Don't Call Me Shirley. (@Meme_Behavior) October 26, 2025
Even neutral observers noted the irony. “You can’t lecture anyone about moral leadership when your biggest legacy is French Laundry and failing cities,” one journalist commented.
Lessons for the Future
For Newsom, the episode offers a clear lesson: social media outrage is a double-edged sword. In an era where every word is scrutinized and archived, politicians can’t afford to post impulsively — especially when their own record is riddled with controversies.
“He keeps trying to pick fights with Trump, and it keeps backfiring,” said communications consultant David Lyle. “Trump’s supporters love it, his critics roll their eyes, and independents just see it as noise. It’s not helping him.”
Conclusion
Gavin Newsom’s latest attempt to score political points against Donald Trump has once again exposed the pitfalls of performative politics. In trying to paint Trump as callous and out of touch, he reminded Americans of his own hypocrisy and elitism.
What began as a social media jab turned into a viral humiliation — another misstep in a long line of blunders for a governor who seems more focused on national headlines than the crises facing his own state.
Remember when you dined at the French Laundry as millions of Californians were isolated in their homes, due to your unconstitutional mandates?
— Michael Oxford - AKA The Santa Cruz Mountain Goat (@SCMountainGoat) October 26, 2025
Then remember when you tried to ruin the careers of everyone who refused to take the experimental injection?
Do you also remember how…
As memes continue to spread and critics sharpen their knives, one thing is clear: Newsom’s attack backfired spectacularly. And in the rough-and-tumble world of modern politics, the court of public opinion doesn’t forgive easily — or forget quickly.
