THE GUARDIAN: In an interview hosted by Politico, the California governor said the US must ‘wake up’ to the the threat posed by the president’s disregard of democratic norms
Donald Trump is gravely serious about running for a third term in violation of the US constitution, California governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday, warning Americans to “wake up” to what he described as the president’s flagrant disregard for democratic norms.
“I don’t think Donald Trump wants another election,” Newsom, a Democrat, said during a live interview at a summit hosted by Politico in Sacramento. “This guy doesn’t believe in free, fair elections.”
Newsom, who has gained national attention in recent weeks for his merciless trolling of Trump online and who is widely considered a presidential contender, said he had a stack of two dozen “Trump 2028” hats sent to him by the president’s supporters.
“You think he’s joking about 2028?” Newsom asked the audience. Noting Trump’s ambitious – and controversial – plans to build a 90,000-square-foot state ballroom off the East Wing of the White House, replete with gold trim that echoes the one he built at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Newsom remarked: “Who spends $200m on a ballroom at their home and then leaves the house?” » | Lauren Gambino in Los Angeles | Thursday, August 28, 2025
