Trump didn’t hold back this time.
President Donald Trump took aim at two of California’s most prominent Democrats during Friday night’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, delivering a speech filled with jokes, political criticism, and sharp one-liners aimed at Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
The remarks come as early attention begins shifting toward the 2028 presidential election, with both Newsom and Harris frequently mentioned as possible Democratic contenders. Throughout his speech, Trump mixed humor with criticism of California’s leadership, Democratic policies, and the national media.
Trump Questions Newsom’s White House Chances
Trump opened one segment of his speech by joking that Newsom may have hurt his own presidential ambitions after praising Harris.
According to Trump, the California governor put himself in a difficult political position by publicly complimenting the former vice president.
“Gavin Newsom has said he won’t be running for president because nobody can say what he said about himself and survive,” Trump joked.
He quickly followed with another jab directed at the governor.
“Newsom admitted Kamala was smarter than him. If Kamala is smarter than someone, you probably don’t want that person serving as President of the United States.”
Trump has made similar remarks before, often referencing Newsom’s previous comments about living with dyslexia and the challenges it created while reading prepared speeches earlier in his career.
Kamala Harris Maintains Early Lead In 2028 Polls
Trump’s comments arrive as Harris continues to hold an early advantage in several national surveys measuring potential Democratic candidates for the 2028 presidential race.
Recent polling indicates the former vice president remains ahead of Newsom and other potential contenders, although the election is still years away and the field has not officially formed.
Political analysts expect the Democratic primary picture to evolve significantly over the coming years, but Harris and Newsom are widely viewed as two of the party’s most recognizable national figures.
Trump Criticizes California Leadership
The president then shifted his attention to California’s record under Democratic leadership.
Using one of his longtime nicknames for the governor, Trump joked about Newsom’s handling of the state’s devastating wildfire seasons.
“There’s only one thing we know about Gavin, and that’s he definitely doesn’t want to fight fire with water.”
Trump expanded his criticism by arguing that California’s leadership has embraced policies that have hurt taxpayers, businesses, and public safety.
He criticized the state’s wildfire management, homelessness programs, immigration policies, and tax proposals, arguing they have contributed to residents and businesses leaving California.
One of Trump’s remarks referenced California’s proposed billionaire wealth tax, which is expected to appear before voters on the November ballot.
“People are leaving in record numbers,” Trump said. “We can’t allow that to continue.”
California Officials Push Back
As Trump’s speech unfolded, Newsom’s communications team appeared to respond through social media.
Several posts criticized the president directly, while another featured an AI-generated image mocking Trump.
A separate message accused Trump of making light of California’s natural disasters while families continue waiting for federal disaster relief funding that state officials say has been delayed.
Neither Newsom nor Harris immediately released a formal statement responding to Trump’s remarks.
Trump Takes Aim At The Media
The California Democrats were not Trump’s only targets.
The president also directed several jokes toward members of the national media attending the annual dinner.
At one point, he joked that the event featured “the largest gathering of Trump Derangement Syndrome ever assembled.”
The crowd responded with a mix of laughter and silence as Trump continued his comedic routine.
Biden And Ocasio-Cortez Also Draw Fire
Trump also delivered a joke aimed at former President Joe Biden.
“Before I came along, if you wanted to see someone lose consciousness on the South Lawn, all you had to do was ask Joe Biden a question.”
Later in the speech, Trump referenced Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, joking that he would like to see the New York Democrat answer another basic foreign policy question following criticism surrounding one of her previous public appearances.
The comments reflected Trump’s broader strategy of using high-profile events to energize supporters while keeping political opponents in the spotlight.
California Remains A Central Political Target
California has long served as one of Trump’s favorite examples when criticizing Democratic governance.
Throughout his presidency and political campaigns, he has frequently pointed to the state’s challenges involving crime, homelessness, taxes, energy policy, immigration, and wildfire management as evidence that progressive policies are failing residents.
Supporters argue Trump’s criticism highlights real problems facing the state, while Democrats maintain California remains one of the nation’s strongest economic engines despite its challenges.
Looking Ahead To 2028
Although the next presidential election remains years away, political positioning has already begun.
Kamala Harris continues to lead many early Democratic polls, while Gavin Newsom remains one of the party’s most recognizable governors despite ongoing speculation about his national ambitions.
Trump’s remarks underscored how California’s Democratic leadership is likely to remain a major target as Republicans and Democrats continue drawing sharp contrasts over the direction of the country.
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching and attention steadily shifting toward 2028, voters can expect the rivalry between Trump, Newsom, Harris, and other national political figures to remain front and center in America’s political conversation.
