Newsom Escalates Feud with Trump, Suggests ‘Dementia’ After Water Supply Claim
California Governor Gavin Newsom again debated former President Donald Trump, mocking his water supply claims. Trump claimed in a recent news conference that Newsom had barred Pacific Northwest water from reaching Los Angeles during the severe wildfires earlier this year. Trump said that this restriction left communities without water in hydrants and homes, worsening fires.
Not the first time Trump has made this claim. He has claimed for months that he “turned the water on” for California, assuring Los Angeles had enough supply. State officials have continually denied this, arguing that Pacific Northwest water does not connect to Southern California systems.
Newsom quickly mocked Trump on social media for repeating the disproved remark. He posted on X a screenshot of an AI chatbot asking if dementia patients repeat lies. The chatbot’s response—that dementia can cause memory loss and repeating false beliefs—was widely perceived as Newsom implying Trump may have cognitive deterioration.
Newsom’s press office fueled the fire. In a harsh article, his team called Trump a “bumbling idiot,” emphasizing that California reservoirs were at record highs during the disasters. The agency added that Trump’s assertion regarding Pacific Northwest water being redirected is false because none of it is related to Los Angeles’s supply.
Like the past president, the California governor’s team is using social media to attack Trump. Newsom’s political branding includes all-caps posts, caustic nicknames, and products spoofing Trump’s campaign slogans. His web store sells “Newsom was right about everything” red hats and “Trump is not hot” tank tops, showing that this campaign is meant to rally Newsom’s fans as well as oppose Trump.
This aggressive internet approach has mixed reviews. Trump supporters and conservative critics have called Newsom unprofessional. Others believe his approach is an effective method to address the previous president utilizing Trump’s style of politics.
Trump dismissed the controversy by saying his critics are lying about his health. When asked about his cognitive ability, he cited his recent interviews and Truth Social posts as evidence of his vigor and sharpness. Over Labor Day weekend, he claimed that he had “never felt better,” labeling the debate over his illness “fake news.”
The Newsom-Trump fight shows how personal and violent American politics has become moving into 2024. Newsom, a potential presidential candidate, is now more eager to challenge Trump on social media, where the former president has traditionally flourished. Trump may again portray himself as a political target in the fight, which fuels his base.
As both men redouble their efforts, the conflict between Trump’s perseverance and Newsom’s trolling will undoubtedly dominate political discourse, mixing traditional debates with online culture.
Sources
The Hill
CNN
Politico
Reuters
