Newsom punched back at California critics in his final State of the State speech

California Governor Gavin Newsom has delivered a scathing rebuke to Republican President Donald Trump's "assault on our values," declaring that democracy itself is at stake in his final State of the State address. With an eye toward his own presidential aspirations, Newsom used this year's speech to tout California's progressive policies and defend them against federal government overreach.

In a pointed critique of the Trump administration's actions, Newsom accused the federal government of prioritizing powerful interests over vulnerable populations, touting its "carnival of chaos on the national stage." He derided efforts to withhold food aid from states, send the National Guard into Democratic-led cities, and cut funding for medical research.

Newsom drew a stark contrast between California's approach and that of the federal government. The state has taken a number of steps to combat homelessness, high healthcare costs, and other issues, including suing the Trump administration over 50 times. Newsom highlighted these efforts as part of a broader agenda to defend California's progressive policies.

The speech came on the heels of a year since devastating wildfires ravaged Los Angeles-area neighborhoods, killing 31 people. Despite repeated calls for billions in funding from Newsom, Trump has refused to provide any significant assistance. This dispute highlights one of many areas where the governor and president have clashed during his first year back in office.

Newsom's address also touched on some of California's most pressing issues, including homelessness, healthcare costs, and crime rates. He pointed out that unsheltered homelessness in the state has dropped by 9% over the past year, according to a preview from his office. The governor highlighted the state's cleanup work following the fires and its push for mortgage relief to survivors.

However, Newsom also criticized Trump for refusing to provide disaster aid to California, which he previously requested nearly $34 billion in funding for. The speech came just one day before Newsom is set to unveil his proposed budget for the next fiscal year, which will likely face intense scrutiny given years of budget shortfalls.

In a more lighthearted tone, Newsom even poked fun at critics who have suffered from what he dubbed "California Derangement Syndrome." By invoking this term, the governor aimed to deflect criticism and emphasize his commitment to California's progressive values.

This was Newsom's first in-person State of the State address since 2022. He has long preferred to submit written addresses or prerecorded speeches due to his dyslexia, which makes it difficult for him to read from a teleprompter live. Despite this, he remained committed to delivering a clear and compelling message to lawmakers.

Under California's state constitution, Newsom is barred from seeking a third term, a fact that may have motivated some of the assertiveness in his speech. Nonetheless, by rallying behind his progressive agenda and defending California's values, the governor aimed to leave a lasting legacy as he prepares to move on from his role.

Newsom's speech was super predictable . Like, I know he's gonna trash Trump but can't we just have some nuance in our politics? Instead of all this binary BS, how about a few compromises or actual solutions? And what's with the "California Derangement Syndrome" thing? Sounds like some kinda clever PR stunt to deflect criticism . Seriously though, I'm all for progressive policies, but can't we work together more instead of just demonizing each other?

I'm low-key worried about what's going down with our democracy right now Newsom is spot on in saying that Trump's actions are a real threat to our values The way the fed gov is handling issues like food aid, National Guard deployments, and medical research funding is just plain wrong California's taking steps to address homelessness, healthcare costs, and other issues, but it feels like the feds aren't lifting a finger What really gets me is that Newsom pointed out how Trump refused disaster aid to CA after our wildfires last year It's like he doesn't care about our people's suffering

The way Newsom is calling out Trump's actions as an assault on democracy is really concerning . It feels like we're seeing more and more of a divide between states with progressive policies and the federal government, which is just creating more tension . I'm not sure if it's the best strategy for Newsom to use his presidential aspirations to take on Trump in this way, though - can he really afford to alienate some of his allies on the left?

On a separate note, it's crazy how much money is at stake here - $34 billion is a huge amount, and Newsom's request for disaster aid has been denied despite the devastating wildfires last year. What's going on there? Are we just seeing more evidence of partisan politics getting in the way of common sense decisions?

I'm also curious to see how this speech will play out with Californians and with voters nationwide. Will Newsom's progressive policies be enough to win him over, or will his criticism of Trump ultimately backfire? Only time will tell...

You know, I think Newsom is really trying to make a statement here . He's not holding back when it comes to criticizing Trump's policies and basically saying that democracy itself is at risk . California's doing its own thing, and they're proud of it . From what I've been following on the news, it seems like Newsom's really committed to making progress on homelessness, healthcare, and all those other issues .

But what caught my attention was when he called out Trump for not providing disaster aid to California . Like, $34 billion is a lot of money, you know? It's crazy that Newsom has to keep asking for it . Anyway, I think this speech shows that Newsom's not afraid to speak his mind and stand up for what he believes in .

And let's be real, the whole "California Derangement Syndrome" thing is just a clever way of deflecting criticism . It's all about keeping it lighthearted and not letting anyone get too riled up . I guess that's one way to handle the pressure!

I'm low-key impressed with Gavin Newsom's State of the State address - it was clear he's not holding back when it comes to speaking truth to power . I think he's spot on in calling out Trump's actions as a threat to democracy, and his own progressive policies are exactly what California needs right now . The fact that he's highlighting the state's successes in combatting homelessness and high healthcare costs is huge - it shows he's not afraid to brag about what works . And let's be real, who can't relate to "California Derangement Syndrome"? I'm also loving how he poked fun at critics while still delivering a strong message, that's the kind of leadership I'd vote for

Trump's actions are devastating for Americans, especially vulnerable populations. Newsom is standing up for California's progressive policies and defending democracy. It's amazing how one state can be a leader in creating positive change. The contrast between California's approach and the federal government's actions is stark . We need more leaders like Newsom who care about people, not just powerful interests . His speech was inspiring, and I'm loving the "California Derangement Syndrome" . Maybe it's time for some humor to lighten up the toxic politics ?

I'm low-key impressed with Newsom's firebrand speech ! He's not afraid to call out Trump's antics and defend Cali's progressive policies . It's clear he's got a plan for the next fiscal year and won't back down from critics who try to rain on his parade ️. His "California Derangement Syndrome" joke had me LOL , and I love how he highlighted all the good stuff Cali's done to combat homelessness and healthcare costs . With a presidential bid looming, it's gonna be interesting to see if he can translate this energy into a national stage .

The way Newsom is going at Trump is pretty chill, you feel? I get that he's trying to set himself up for a presidential run, but he's still sticking it to the man without being too harsh. It's all about framing California as this beacon of progress and democracy, while Trump's all about chaos . Newsom's got some solid points about prioritizing vulnerable populations over corporate interests . And hey, calling out Trump for not providing disaster aid? That takes guts . Not to mention, he's poking fun at critics who are just mad because they can't handle California's vibe . All in all, it was a solid speech that showed Newsom is still got his game face on

I'm not sure what's going on with this whole situation with Trump and Newsom . It seems like they're just going back and forth about stuff and not really getting anywhere. I mean, isn't the point of being a governor to help people in your state? It feels like they're just trying to one-up each other instead of focusing on solutions. And what's up with all these lawsuits? 50 times?! That seems excessive . Can't they just work together?

Newsom totally owns this ! The guy's got guts and is not afraid to take on Trump. I mean, who else can say they've sued the feds 50 times? California's progressive policies are the real deal, and Newsom's all about defending them against those right-wing extremists. I'm loving the "California Derangement Syndrome" thing - genius move! It's like he's saying, "Hey, you can't criticize me, I'm just a victim of my own awesomeness." Anyway, with this speech, Newsom's clearly positioning himself for a presidential run. Who knows if he'll actually go through with it, but he's definitely making a strong case.

I'm loving this whole "California Derangement Syndrome" thing , Gavin Newsom is like the king of trolling Trump . I mean, who else can make fun of people's criticism while still getting serious about the issues? But for real though, it's sad that he has to deal with all this drama from Trump . California's progressive policies are pretty cool, and it's awesome that they're trying to tackle homelessness, healthcare costs, and crime rates. I'm all about supporting innovative solutions like the state's cleanup work after those wildfires . Can we talk about how messed up it is that Trump refused to provide disaster aid? Like, what even is that? Newsom's speech was a great way to highlight the contrast between California's approach and the federal government's priorities . Now let's see how his budget proposal goes over . One thing's for sure, Gavin's got the progressive vibes on lock !

The way Newsom is going after Trump's attacks on California is really telling. It's like, what's at stake here? Is it just about preserving progressive policies or is there something more? I think the fact that Newsom mentioned his own presidential aspirations has to be a factor in this speech - he's trying to position himself as the leader who will defend democracy against this "carnival of chaos" on the national stage. But what does that really mean? Is it just about defending California or is it about defending a certain ideology? It's all so complicated...