Gavin Newsom’s presidential ambitions are the worst-kept secret in American politics. As 2028 looms, the California governor has all but abandoned any pretense of humility, lunging for the national spotlight with a fervor that borders on desperation. The recent chaos in Los Angeles, far from being a moment for sober leadership, has become just the latest backdrop for Newsom’s relentless self-promotion as he picks fights with President Donald Trump—and loses.
He’s not just responding to events—he’s orchestrating them, determined to cast himself as the only Democrat willing to stand toe-to-toe with the Trump administration, no matter the cost to his own state. A couple of weeks ago, he was begging the Trump administration to arrest him, now he begging Vice President JD Vance to debate him.
Hey @JDVance — nice of you to finally make it out to California.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 20, 2025
Since you’re so eager to talk about me, how about saying it to my face?
Let’s debate. Time and place?
Let’s be clear: Newsom’s public dare to Vance wasn’t about defending California or clarifying policy. It was about spectacle, pure and simple. Another blatant attempt to put on some phony bravado, and then pat himself on the back for his bravery. We’ve seen this play before. In 2023, when Newsom was quietly positioning himself as an alternative to Joe Biden in the event he was unable to run again, he challenged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to a debate, hoping to show off his rhetorical chops and position himself as the Democrats’ answer to Republican “extremism.” It was a disaster for Newsom. In fact, things went so badly, that after agreeing to extend the debate, Newsom’s wife had to pull the plug.
But this latest stunt with Vance is even more desperate, coming as Los Angeles reels from violent protests, looting, and the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to restore order. While businesses board up and law enforcement struggles to contain the unrest, Newsom’s instinct is to challenge the vice president to a debate—because nothing says “leadership” like demanding a primetime sparring match while your city burns.
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Let’s be honest: this debate isn’t happening. The sitting vice president isn’t about to hand Gavin Newsom a national platform to shamelessly grandstand. Sure, plenty of MAGA supporters would love to see it—and there’s no doubt it would be another humiliating beatdown for California’s smug, self-promoting governor—but let’s not kid ourselves. This isn’t going to happen, and frankly, it shouldn’t.
The irony is that Newsom’s debate challenge, intended to make him look bold and unafraid, only underscores his political opportunism. While he postures for the cameras and picks fights with Washington, the real problems in California—rampant crime, out-of-control protests, and a legal system at war with itself—go unaddressed. The governor’s “leadership” amounts to little more than social media stunts and finger-pointing, all in service of a presidential run that seems more inevitable, and more hollow, with each passing day.
If Newsom thinks a televised debate with Vance is the answer to California’s woes—or the ticket to the White House—he’s fooling himself. The country is watching, and so far, all they see is a politician more interested in his own reflection than in the hard work of governing.
