Copy, Paste, Provoke: California Governor Newsom Trolls Trump On X—And Riles His MAGA Base

California Governor and Democratic party leader Gavin Newsom has chosen an unusual tactic against Donald Trump: imitation.

Over the past fortnight, the California governor has taken to X, the platform once known as Twitter, writing in a style that looks uncannily like Trump’s own—every word in capital letters, littered with exclamation marks, and heavy on slogans.

Posts from the California Governor’s official press account declare things like “I ACCEPT!” or “AMERICA’S FAVOURITE GOVERNOR!!!”.

They are paired with edited images, nicknames and meme-like boasts that long defined Trump’s online persona.

One post drew more than 12m views, a remarkable reach for a state government communications channel.

The aim is obvious: mock Trump by copying him.

Progressive strategists are delighted, calling it a clever way to spotlight the absurdity of his style. Conservatives, including Trump's MAGA supporters, are livid.

Meanwhile, hosts at Fox News, a news network considered pro-conservatives and pro-Trump, have called it juvenile.

Trump himself responded on his social media platform Truth Social, accusing Newsom of having “ruined California” and vowing to “save” it.

Republicans in US Congress and statehouses rushed to pile on.

US Vice President J D Vance dismissed the stunt as inauthentic, arguing that Trump’s appeal comes from being uniquely himself.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz called it empty theatre.

Yet each denunciation only sustains the cycle: Newsom posts, conservatives rage, Trump lashes out, and Newsom posts again.

The backdrop is serious. California Democrats are preparing a ballot measure to override the state’s independent redistricting commission and redraw congressional districts to their advantage. This comes in response to Republicans in Texas pushing similar moves.

Newsom’s trolling ensures the fight plays out as much on social media as in legislative chambers.

Whether parodying Trump translates into political gain is uncertain.

What is clear is that Newsom has stumbled on a formula that dominates online conversation, irritates his opponents and forces Trump to respond.

For a state governor with ambitions to contest the upcoming US Presidential polls, that may be reward enough.

AIndia Key To Countering China’s Dominance, Alienating It A 'Strategic Disaster', Says Nikki Haley In Sharp Rebuke To Trump