Newsom Adopts Trump-Style Memes, Launches Satirical Patriot Shop

California Governor Gavin Newsom has escalated a monthslong public feud with President Donald Trump by adopting a sustained campaign of mimicry and mockery on social media and turning the satire into a revenue stream. In recent weeks the governor’s press office has posted in all capital letters, borrowed the president’s combative nicknames and rhetorical tics, and this weekend opened an online “Patriot Shop” selling parody merchandise that ranges from red caps reading NEWSOM WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING to a tongue in cheek listing for a “Holy Bible” marked sold out. Newsom and his team say the effort has driven large increases in followers and brisk sales, while critics call the tactic unserious and provocative.

The governor’s official X account and his broader campaign feed have published posts that mimic the president’s Truth Social style, often using excessive exclamation points and grandstanding claims. Examples have included barbs aimed at Trump’s allies, taunts about redistricting fights with Texas, and a mock protest of Cracker Barrel’s logo redesign written in the same caps-heavy voice. Newsom’s press office has also reposted AI-generated memes and other viral images...