Governor Gavin Newsom has introduced a new term, “California derangement syndrome,” to describe his critics.
As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Newsom uses this phrase to characterize individuals who are, in his view, irrationally obsessed with criticizing California and portraying it as a failed state. This term mirrors “Trump derangement syndrome,” which was used by supporters of President Donald Trump to dismiss criticisms of him.
Newsom, who is considered a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election, has been using this term more frequently. Recently, his press office even made AI-generated posts to emphasize this point. One post was a response to President Trump calling Newsom “a horrible governor,” featuring an image of a pill bottle labeled “Newsom derangement syndrome.” Another post targeted Fox News commentator Sean Hannity, showing an AI-generated video of Hannity holding a similar bottle while criticizing California’s taxes and gas prices.
In a recent interview with Politico, Newsom expressed his awareness of this “syndrome” in other states, which he would need to address if he runs for president. He also mentioned podcaster Joe Rogan as someone who suffers from this affliction, citing Rogan’s criticism of Newsom’s governance in California.
However, some political analysts, like Rob Stutzman, caution that while this framing might resonate with Californians, it could be perceived as arrogant by voters in other states. Stutzman suggests that Newsom will need to address issues like homelessness and high energy prices to appeal to a broader audience if he seeks national office.
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