A New Democratic Playbook: ‘Head On’

Don’t Poke the Bear: Gavin Newsom Uses Trump’s Punchy Style to Build 2028 Case

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has launched himself into the national spotlight with a strategy few Democrats have dared to try: fighting Trump by becoming a mirror of Trump. On social media, Newsom has borrowed the former president’s all-caps rants, insult-laden posts, and even his fondness for bizarre parentheticals. It’s a trolling strategy that entertains Democrats, enrages Republicans, and—most importantly—draws money and attention.

“This is a new Democratic Party. This is a new energy out there all across this country, and we are going to meet fire with fire,” Newsom said during an Aug. 20 conference call with party leaders.

The 57-year-old governor has since turned that mantra into a political persona. Between AI-generated memes of his face on Mount Rushmore and viral all-caps attacks on Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin, Newsom is recasting himself as a Gen-X liberal brawler willing to get as messy online as his Republican rival.

Fundraising Surge and Polling Boost

The results have been immediate. In the week after launching a ballot measure to redraw California’s congressional districts—a direct response to Texas Republicans’ new maps—Newsom raised $6.2 million from roughly 200,000 donors. His campaign also poured nearly half a million into Facebook and Instagram ads, multiplying his reach among Democrats frustrated by months of sagging poll numbers.

An Echelon Insights poll in August placed Newsom at 13% support among Democratic voters, up from 4% in April. While he still trails Vice President Kamala Harris, the bump has positioned him as a serious contender for the 2028 primary.

Mirroring Trump’s Playbook

Newsom’s parody of Trump’s style is both performance and political weapon. One viral post mocked Trump’s press conference with Putin:

“TRUMP JUST FLED THE PODIUM WITH PUTIN — NO QUESTIONS, NOTHING! TOTAL LOW ENERGY. THE MAN LOOKED LIKE HE’D JUST EATEN 3 BUCKETS OF KFC WITH VLAD.”

He followed by boasting of his own redistricting push:

“MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING HE BEGGED PUTIN TO HOLD HIS HANDS (TINY) ON THE WAY OUT. ADMIT IT, DONNIE J… YOU’RE TERRIFIED BECAUSE THIS WAS THE WORST WEEK OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE OF ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM.”

The tone is unmistakably Trumpian. By mimicking the president, Newsom simultaneously lampoons him and forces conservatives into a corner. To call Newsom’s antics unserious, they must also admit Trump’s posting is equally ridiculous.

MAGA Meltdown

The trolling has not gone unnoticed. Trump fired back on Truth Social:

“Gavin Newscum is way down in the polls. He is viewed as the man who is destroying the once Great State of California. I will save California!!!”

Fox News hosts Dana Perino and Trace Gallagher scolded Newsom for making “a fool” of himself. Conservative pundit Tomi Lahren mocked him as leading “a team of beta males who sit down to pee.” Kid Rock piled on as well. But the more they complain, the more attention Newsom’s posts generate.

Political analysts note that engagement metrics back it up. Since Aug. 1, his GovPressOffice account has gained 250,000 followers and logged over 1.5 million profile visits.

Democrats Are Craving Fight

For some Democrats, Newsom’s brashness is overdue. Radio host Charlamagne tha God praised his style on The Breakfast Club: “When they low go, either you ignore them or you go to hell. He’s matching energy and I like it.”

“When they go low, we go to hell.”

All of this @cthagod!! pic.twitter.com/DW4rKvV87G

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 20, 2025

The enthusiasm comes as Democrats struggle with declining voter registration. A New York Times analysis recently found Republicans gaining 4.5 million voters nationwide compared with Democrats. Newsom’s combativeness may be giving the party the shot of adrenaline it needs.

What Comes Next

Newsom’s shift is not without risk. Even some Democrats worry that parodying Trump too closely could undercut his seriousness as governor of the nation’s largest state. Yet his strategy highlights a broader reality: in the modern attention economy, being entertaining is often as important as being correct.

As he experiments with podcasts, memes, and rallies, Newsom is signaling he wants to be a household name by 2028. Whether his trolling can translate into a winning presidential campaign remains to be seen. But one thing is clear—he has found a way to put Trump on the defensive.

And for Democrats weary of losing to Trump’s bombast, that alone may feel like victory.