California governor earns surprising nod from Trump ally amid social media blitz

Hold onto your hats, folks — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is playing a game of digital hardball with President Donald Trump, and even a key MAGA figure is tipping his cap.

Newsom has turned his official @GovPressOffice account on X into a battleground, mimicking Trump’s brash social media style to jab at the president and his supporters while racking up over 250,000 followers and 225 million impressions since early August, as the Daily Mail reports, evening gaining a mention from MAGA stalwart Steve Bannon.

Using the same all-caps rants and bold imagery that define Trump’s posts on Truth Social, Newsom’s team of four or five aides crafts content that’s meant to provoke.

Newsom’s strategy shocks conservatives

Take a recent post where Newsom’s account featured an image of himself on Mount Rushmore — talk about audacity — and another showing the late Hulk Hogan praying over him with a halo, alongside Tucker Carlson and Kid Rock.

“So nice!” chirped the @GovPressOffice account about the prayer image, but when a user called it disrespectful, Newsom’s team doubled down with a snarky reply pointing to a White House post of Trump as the Pope.

Is this clever counterpunching or just bad taste? For a party often criticized for being overly cautious, this feels like a Democrat trying to fight fire with fire — though some might say it’s just playing with matches.

Targeting MAGA icons with Trump-like tactics

Then there’s the all-caps outburst: “HAS ANYONE NOTICED” that Kid Rock isn’t “hot” anymore since Newsom supposedly criticized him? It’s a direct echo of Trump’s own style, right down to the petty jab, and it’s clear Newsom is studying the playbook closely.

Even Fox News host Dana Perino wasn’t spared, with Newsom’s account dubbing her “DING DONG” and claiming she’s “melting down” over his antics. Borrowing Trump’s habit of nicknaming foes and ending with a smug “thank you for your attention,” the post was a full-on imitation.

Perino fired back on Fox, suggesting Newsom’s behavior makes him look foolish and urging him to act with more gravitas if he wants a bigger role. Her point stings — there’s a fine line between bold and buffoonery, and Newsom might be tap-dancing on it.

Unexpected kudos from Bannon

Yet, in a twist no one saw coming, Trump’s longtime strategist Steve Bannon offered rare praise, telling Politico that Newsom is “trying to mimic” Trump and looks like the only Democrat “organizing a fight” they might win.

Bannon warned that MAGA supporters should watch this closely, predicting Newsom’s tactics will only get “more intense.” That’s a sobering nod from someone who helped craft Trump’s own combative style — perhaps a sign that Newsom’s punches are landing.

Still, is imitation really the sincerest form of flattery, or just a cheap shot? Bannon’s comments suggest even Trump’s allies see a spark of something formidable here, which ought to make conservatives pause and think.

Shift to digital combat

Newsom himself explained to Fox 11 Los Angeles that his approach changed after feeling Trump misrepresented facts about California issues like the Los Angeles fires and federalized the National Guard over anti-ICE protests.

“Yes, I’ve changed,” Newsom admitted, arguing that the facts demanded a new response to a president he sees as “unmoored” and unlike traditional political opponents. While his frustration is relatable to many who feel pushed by progressive overreach, turning to social media stunts might not be the high road conservatives would prefer.

Democrats, meanwhile, seem to cheer this boldness, with a former Biden spokesperson calling it the kind of “guts and experimentation” the party needs. But let’s be honest — mimicking Trump’s style risks alienating as many as it attracts, and Newsom may find that actions, indeed, have consequences in the court of public opinion.