California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared this week that he would block any attempt by a potential Trump administration to expand offshore oil drilling along the state’s coastline — a vow that quickly sparked political backlash.
“Dead on arrival,” Newsom wrote Tuesday on X in response to a Washington Post report claiming Trump officials are considering plans to allow offshore oil production near California “for the first time in decades.”
His post, which has racked up more than 3 million views, drew swift responses from critics.
“‘Dead on arrival’ is what @GavinNewsom says about Trump proposal to drill offshore California,” ophthalmologist and commentator Houman David Hemmati posted on X. “The SAME man who’s been pushing for overpriced, unreliable, environmentally catastrophic offshore wind.”
Gabriella Hoffman, director of the Independent Women’s Forum Center for Energy and Conservation, argued that the state should be open to exploring new offshore development. She said advancements in technology have improved safety and reduced environmental impact.
“California is considered an oil island, despite having plentiful onshore and offshore recoverable oil reserves,” Hoffman said. “Governor Newsom purports to hate oil and gas, yet 60% of California’s petroleum is imported from foreign nations including Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Guyana. That’s unsettling, but a natural consequence of forcing a 100% transition to renewables.”
Newsom traveled to the COP30 global climate conference in Belém, Brazil this week, where he used the international stage to take aim at the Trump administration’s absence. The White House responded by pointing to California’s persistently high energy prices.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Newsom’s office said the state has not been briefed on any formal proposal but insisted offshore drilling would “put our communities at risk and undermine the economic stability of our coastal economies.”
The spokesperson added, “Given recent history, we’re not surprised by the lack of communication or their lack of thought into how their actions will impact Americans.”
Newsom’s team later framed his Brazil trip as evidence that California is “leading by example,” proving that “climate action and economic growth go hand in hand.”
Still, Hoffman argued that Newsom’s environmental policies have allowed renewables to avoid scrutiny.
“He desires to litter my home state’s coastline with offshore wind farms that are eyesores, produce expensive unreliable electricity, and threaten fish and marine mammals,” she said. Hoffman noted that decommissioned oil rigs can be converted into marine habitats under the state’s “rigs to reef” program.
Mark Bednar, former communications director for Speaker Kevin McCarthy, echoed concerns about blocking domestic production.
“Right now, adversaries like Russia, China, Venezuela, and Iran are working around the clock to expand their economic and geopolitical footholds,” Bednar said. “Any American lawmaker who opposes moves to grow America’s energy dominance will have a hard time explaining to the American people why unilaterally tying one arm behind our back is good for America.”
According to Hoffman, the governor’s approach has contributed to California’s rising costs.
“California has the second-highest electricity rates after Hawaii,” she said. “If two oil refineries close by 2026, California residents will soon pay $8 per gallon at the gas pump. That’s unsustainable.”
She concluded that new offshore oil and gas development — along with more nuclear, geothermal, and natural gas options — could help restore California’s energy independence.
