Newsom accuses Trump of being ‘most destructive president’ in his lifetime

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said President Donald Trump is one of the “most destructive” presidents of his lifetime and that the country has become “unrecognizable.”

The governor made the comments Wednesday during an appearance on New York Times columnist Ezra Klein’s podcast.

“I think Trump is one of the most destructive presidents and human beings in my lifetime,” Newsom said. “I think this republic is in real danger, that this country is unrecognizable. And I have no patience for people who want to indulge in that.”

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Newsom also criticized financial, educational and political entities for “kneeling to this president.”

“I can’t stand crony capitalism,” the California Democrat continued. “I cannot stand that universities did this, law firms did this, individual corporate leaders did this, and other state governors, perhaps Democrats and Republicans, who were complicit in this moment.”

Many elite universities, banking firms and law firms have adjusted their policies this year in the face of threats from the Trump administration, including the potential loss of federal funding for educational institutions.

Newsom, who has been floated as a potential top Democratic nominee for the 2028 presidential election, has been an outspoken critic of Trump since his first term in the White House. He said he “softened” Trump’s threat to ignore constitutional restrictions and try to run for a third term.

“This guy is reckless,” Newsom said. “We won’t have fair, free elections if we don’t keep fighting. I’m a future former governor. Who knows what’s going to happen with the rest of my life? Except one thing I know is important in the rest of my life is that I gotta look my kids in the eye. I mean that seriously.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump since his first term in the White House. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)

The governor’s criticism of Trump this year has included social media rants that mimic the president’s writing style, such as the use of all caps and titles.

Newsom also mocked Trump with AI-generated videos, including one that depicted the president, Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller being handcuffed and crying.

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California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized financial, educational and political entities for “kneeling to this president.” (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

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The jabs at Trump are just one side of a feud between the two politicians, with the president repeatedly attacking Newsom, including blaming him for the wildfires that tore through Southern California in January and backing White House border czar Toman Homan’s threat to arrest the governor amid federal immigration raids in Los Angeles over the summer.