Gavin Newsom Says J.D. Vance Scares Him More Than Trump
Screencap of Twitter/X video.
During a recent interview on MSNBC Reports with Jen Psaki, Gavin Newsom was asked about the 2028 presidential election. He said that Vice President J. D. Vance concerns him even more than President Donald Trump.
For many Democrats, the Republican currently in power is often portrayed as more alarming than previous GOP leaders. Once a Republican leaves office and no longer poses an electoral threat, critics sometimes soften their tone, reframing former opponents as comparatively reasonable. Similar shifts in rhetoric have occurred in the past regarding figures such as George W. Bush and Mitt Romney.
According to reporting from The Hill, Newsom described Vance as “dangerous” in his conversation with Psaki.
“Vance, for whatever reason, scares me, almost more than Trump,” Newsom said. “I mean, talk about a guy who put a mask on and his face grew into it.” He also criticized Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, calling them “frauds” and “phonies” for reversing their earlier criticisms of the president.
Marco Rubio is a complete fraud. But no one tops JD Vance. Talk about a guy who put a mask on his face and grew into it. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/fNbTEYJY4z
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) February 26, 2026
Newsom added, “But JD is a unique fraud and phony, and he’s a little more dangerous.”
Widely viewed as a potential Democratic contender in 2028, Newsom has strongly opposed the Trump administration’s policies. In the interview, recorded the day after the president’s State of the Union address, he also raised concerns about the possibility of a third presidential term and warned about what he described as serious issues surrounding election security in the United States.
In recent months, Newsom has increased his national profile through interviews and public appearances, moves that many political observers interpret as positioning ahead of the next presidential race. Critics argue that his record in California — including the state’s response to last year’s wildfires — raises questions about his leadership, while supporters maintain that he has governed one of the nation’s largest and most complex states during a period of significant challenges.
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