California Governor Gavin Newsom seems to be setting the stage for a potential presidential campaign in 2028. However, his current track record as governor raises questions about why voters would support him for the highest office in the land.

Newsom’s tenure has been marred by numerous challenges, including the mishandling of the Palisades fire and the ongoing homelessness crisis. His recent veto of a bill addressing menopause issues has also stirred controversy, particularly after acclaimed actress Halle Berry criticized him at The New York Times DealBook Summit. Berry accused Newsom of undervaluing women, making her critique even more impactful by delivering it just before Newsom took the stage at the same event. The governor’s awkward, cross-legged seating position during his appearance went viral, adding fuel to the public’s mockery.

Since then, Newsom has been attempting to repair the damage. In response to Berry’s comments, he claimed on Thursday that she was unaware of his intention to address the menopause bill in the next year’s budget. He cited concerns about higher costs as the reason for his initial veto. This explanation appears to be a retrospective attempt to mitigate the backlash from a critical demographic he will need to court for any future presidential ambitions: women.

He’s failed on so many issues, including the Palisades fire and homelessness. He’s even failed when it came to a bill dealing with menopause, as Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry explained when she railed against him during The New York Times DealBook Summit. Newsom vetoed the bill, and Berry said he is devaluing women. What made her remarks even better was that she did it shortly before he spoke at the same summit, which is why he might have ended up in that extreme cross-legged, “testicle-crushing” sitting position. It went viral, and everyone mocked him for it. 

Newsom has been trying to dig himself out of the hole ever since. 

First, as to Berry. He said on Thursday that she just “didn’t know” that he really planned to do something about the menopause bill. He claimed he was going to include it in next year’s budget, and he had been concerned about higher costs. Way to play clean-up after the fact there, buddy. He no doubt realized she exposed his failures to a vital group of people that he’s going to desperately need for any future run: women. 

Then, he tried to deal with the mockery over his “testicle-crushing’ position. But I think it’s safe to say that he created a whole new issue with that effort. I suspect many memes will be born out of this. 

WOW! https://t.co/3p3HZarXNZ

— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) December 6, 2025

Oh my, I don’t think that’s quite the flex he thinks it is. If that’s showing off the assets he has to be president, that’s not saying much. 

Now you know, between his account and the press office account, the hot takes are gold. And they wonder why they are losing men. I don’t think they understand social media and what people will do with the post. 

Mark Mitchell of Rasmussen couldn’t believe they posted it. 

They… Posted this? https://t.co/7Jb4mYwmdF

— Mark Mitchell, Rasmussen Reports (@honestpollster) December 6, 2025

Gavin illustrating his taxation policy on your average California residence. https://t.co/uQ7JoM6URQ

— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) December 6, 2025

Some predicted this would tank Newsom’s aspirations. 

It’s over pic.twitter.com/LBraeiS29Y

— Amanda Jean (@AJAmmirabilis) December 6, 2025

WTAF??🤣🤣🤣
Democrats in A NUTSHELL!! https://t.co/jnH2HuwlWm

— Lina (@catapinacaro) December 6, 2025

Others thought it was the perfect representation of Democrats. 

The final destination of liberalism

— Lucas Answers 🇺🇸 (@lucasanswers) December 6, 2025

Newsom is apparently trying to wrest the weird crown from Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

It does look like a Howard Dean moment. That’s when the Dean Scream in Jan. 2004 revealed what a weirdo he was to most normal people, and that completely finished him for president. 

On January 19, 2004, Democratic Presidential ‘frontrunner’ Howard Dean, who placed a disappointing third in the Democratic Iowa precinct caucuses, launched into an animated pep talk with his supporters, later dubbed the ‘Dean Scream’ pic.twitter.com/bg7anDvs1g

— RetroNewsNow (@RetroNewsNow) January 20, 2024

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