California governor uses anti-Trump stance to rehabilitate image for potential 2028 presidential run

Don’t miss the full story from our staff writers, whose reportage is the basis of this article.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is leveraging his confrontation with President Trump over deportation policies to establish himself as the leading voice of Democratic opposition and position himself for a potential 2028 presidential run. In a Tuesday night televised address that resembled a campaign speech, Mr. Newsom warned that “democracy is under assault” as he criticized Mr. Trump’s immigration enforcement actions, including the deployment of National Guard and Marines for immigration sweeps.

Political analysts view this as a strategic move to revitalize Mr. Newsom’s political image and appeal to liberal activists who had grown disappointed with him. The governor is seizing what Republican strategist Rob Stutzman calls an “enormous gift” from Mr. Trump — the opportunity to lead a Democratic Party that has lacked clear leadership since the November election losses.

Mr. Newsom’s approach aims to portray him as a “fighter” willing to take on the Trump administration, potentially helping him recover from criticism over his handling of California’s ongoing challenges including homelessness, wildfires and budget issues. Political science professor David McCuan notes that Gov. Newsom’s rhetoric contains “tofu for progressives” while also appealing to broader audiences concerned about military deployment for immigration enforcement.

However, the strategy carries significant risks. Gov. Newsom could find himself on the wrong side of public opinion, particularly when confronted with images of civil unrest, including burning cars and protesters carrying Mexican flags. Critics worry his progressive reputation could make him appear out of step with mainstream law and order concerns.

Mr. Newsom’s relationship with liberal Democrats has been rocky recently. After strongly defending President Biden’s mental acuity during the campaign, he faced criticism when Mr. Biden’s candidacy collapsed. He further alienated progressive activists by hosting controversial figures like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk on his podcast and stating it’s “deeply unfair” for biological men to compete in women’s sports.

The governor has also faced accusations of betraying immigrants by backtracking on promises to provide healthcare to undocumented migrants. Despite these challenges, he has maintained his opposition stance, filing lawsuits against Trump’s tariff policies and seeking to block military involvement in immigration enforcement.

Republican critics argue this approach will backfire, with RNC member Shaun Steel claiming Gov. Newsom has the “opposite of the Midas touch” and that his opposition actually helps maintain President Trump’s popularity. As Mr. Newsom continues positioning himself as the Democratic resistance leader, the effectiveness of this strategy for his national political ambitions remains to be seen.

Read more: Gavin Newsom dives into fight with Trump, rebuilds cred with Democrats’ liberal base