California Governor Gavin Newsom accused President Donald Trump of being the “leading nationalist and socialist of our time” during an appearance on the Pivot podcast.
Why It Matters
Newsom has tried to position himself as one of Trump’s main political opponents, clashing with the president on major issues. These include the redistricting battle in Texas and the use of the National Guard to respond to protests and riots connected to his immigration policies in Los Angeles earlier this summer.
The governor is seen as a possible Democratic candidate for president in 2028. Recent polls show that many Democratic primary voters are responding positively to his criticism of Trump, giving his support a noticeable boost.
What to Know
In the podcast interview with journalist Kara Swisher, released Friday, Newsom attacked Trump’s policies, especially his recent deal with Intel.
Last week, Trump announced that Intel, a major computer chip manufacturer, would give the federal government a 10 percent stake in the company. The move drew bipartisan criticism, with opponents saying it looked like a step toward socialism.
“This guy has completely perverted capitalism, Donald Trump. It’s crony capitalism. It’s whatever, you pay him off, give him a phone call,” Newsom said.
He added: “These illegal tariffs, which we’re also fighting in court, all of it is just perverse. And yet somehow Democrats are labeled as the socialists, when in reality this guy is the leading nationalist and socialist of our time.”
Republicans have often tried to tie Democrats to prominent socialist-leaning figures such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Most Democrats, however, have rejected being identified with socialism.
White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai pushed back on Newsom’s criticism in a statement to Newsweek, saying President Trump is “ensuring that taxpayers are able to reap the upside of the federal government’s investments into safeguarding our national and economic security.”
According to a Pew Research Center poll from August 2022, 36 percent of Americans had a positive view of socialism, while 57 percent viewed capitalism positively.
What People Are Saying
Kush Desai also told Newsweek: “The previous administration pushed legislation to dole out billions in grants that prioritized DEI over taxpayer return to some of the largest semiconductor companies in the world. Now the Trump administration is ensuring that taxpayers are able to reap the upside of the federal government’s investments into safeguarding our national and economic security – all while simultaneously pushing supply-side reforms like deregulation and The One Big Beautiful Bill’s tax cuts to let the free market restore America as the world’s most dynamic economy.”
Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, wrote on X: “If socialism is government owning the means of production, wouldn’t the government owning part of Intel be a step toward socialism? Terrible idea.”
Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan released a statement praising Trump’s deal: “President Trump’s focus on U.S. chip manufacturing is driving historic investments in a vital industry that is integral to the country’s economic and national security. We are grateful for the confidence the President and the Administration have placed in Intel, and we look forward to working to advance U.S. technology and manufacturing leadership.”
What Happens Next
Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday that he hopes to have “many more cases like” Intel.
