‘The Daily Show’ Skewers Gavin Newsom in Satirical Presidential Spotlight Segment [WATCH]

A recent episode of The Daily Show took aim at California Gov. Gavin Newsom with a satirical video that framed him as a polished potential presidential contender while highlighting controversies and unresolved policy issues from his time in office, as reported by Fox News.

The segment, part of the program’s “Daily Showography” series, presented Newsom as a possible 2028 Democratic hopeful, while revisiting his political rise and drawing attention to several high-profile episodes from his tenure.

The narration traced Newsom’s background from his early business ventures to his ascent through California politics, noting his launch of a winery and quipping that it came “with nothing but his grit, his refined palate and the financial backing of an oil tycoon.”

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After recounting Newsom’s progression from mayor of San Francisco to governor of California, the segment pivoted to what it described as setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“But Governor Newsom has also faced setbacks, like having to hide half of his moneymaker during the pandemic and making some hard choices, like limiting public gatherings,” the narrator said. “Well, most public gatherings.”

The video then replayed widely circulated footage of Newsom dining at The French Laundry, one of the state’s most exclusive restaurants, during the height of pandemic restrictions that limited social gatherings for Californians.

The segment also mocked Newsom’s social media activity directed at President Donald Trump.

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“And while Trump was sending his soldiers into the streets, Gavin was ready to fight back in the tweets,” the narrator said, as a clip of a news anchor played, stating:

“California Governor Gavin Newsom has been mocking President Trump with all-caps social media posts.”

Framing Newsom as a media-ready national figure, the segment described him as a possible Democratic presidential contender.

“And so we ask that you consider Gavin Newsom — a screen-ready, Christian Bale-type — ready to tackle chronic problems, like homelessness and high-speed rail. Plus, he dances while he talks for some reason,” the narrator said.

To underscore those issues, the video displayed headlines referencing California’s ongoing challenges. One headline from March 2025 reported that homelessness in the state had reached a “record high.”

Another, from the Los Angeles Times in 2024, stated that the state’s high-speed rail project was “$100 billion short” and still “years from reality.”

Newsom has recently promoted progress on the rail project, pointing to the completion of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s Southern Railhead Facility in Kern County.

In a press release, Newsom said, “We’ve taken another critical step in the track-laying stage,” referring to work overseen by the California High-Speed Rail Authority.

The segment concluded by leaning into the show’s Hollywood framing. “Gavin Newsom — he’s more than a politician; he’s a leading man,” the narrator said.

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the segment.

The satire followed renewed attention on Newsom’s national profile after Vogue published a profile that opened by describing the governor as “embarrassingly handsome.”

The article stated, “Let’s get this out of the way: He is embarrassingly handsome, his hair seasoned with silver, at ease with his own eminence as he delivers his final State of the State address.”

It continued, “It must drive Trump nuts,” adding, “Newsom: lithe, ardent, energetic, a glimmer of optimism in his eye; Kennedy-esque.”

While Newsom has not formally announced plans to run for president in 2028, he is widely regarded as a de facto contender, with increasing national attention focused on his record, messaging, and visibility beyond California.

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