In recent times, Democrats have become quite predictable: no matter what former President Donald Trump does or says, it’s immediately condemned. His latest endeavor, a $300 million project to construct a White House ballroom, has stirred up critics, including California Governor Gavin Newsom. Despite the fact that this upgrade won’t cost taxpayers anything and aims to benefit the nation for years, Newsom deems it a “vulgar display,” describing Trump’s leadership as akin to a “wrecking ball presidency.”

It might be wise for Newsom to heed the old adage, “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” This is particularly relevant considering the extensive Capitol renovation underway in Sacramento, which is practically in his own backyard. Curiously, when inquiries arise about the project, responses are elusive, with many participants bound by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs).

This approach is emblematic of what some might call the “Gavin Newsom/California Way” of conducting affairs.

KCRA 3’s Political Director, Ashley Zavala, has been investigating the Sacramento project, uncovering troubling details that highlight what critics label as Governor Newsom’s hypocrisy. While Trump has maintained transparency regarding his ballroom initiative, Newsom becomes defensive and evasive when questioned about the ongoing Sacramento renovations.

Three years into the project, raising questions about Newsom’s criticism of Trump’s alleged corruption seems only fair.

This is the Gavin Newsom/California Way of doing business.

Political Director Ashley Zavala of KCRA 3 has been covering the Sacramento story, though, and what she’s finding out is troubling and shows—once again—the hypocrisy of the fancily-coiffed governor. While Trump has been extremely transparent about the ballroom project, Newsom clams up and gets testy when anyone dares ask, “Just what the heck is going on?”

Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised to push state lawmakers leading the California Capitol Annex project to be more transparent about how they’re using taxpayer dollars.

Documents show Newsom’s office plays a larger role in the project than the governor suggested earlier this week.

It has been at least three years since project leaders in the California Legislature provided an update on the estimated cost of the taxpayer funded office building that will be used by the governor and state lawmakers. At last check, it was expected to cost more than $1.1 billion.

Three years?! And this is the guy telling you Trump is corrupt?

Watch the supercilious disdain with which he treats Zavala when she attempts to get answers. He plays dumb, blames everything on other people, and at one point goes into a creepy Joe Biden whisper. And just what the heck is he doing with his gestures?! Tim “Jazz Hands” Walz will be sent into a jealous rage:

Newsom is keeping very close tabs on the White House ballroom. Yet he claims ignorance as to the State Capitol a block from his office, where an extravagant “renovation” is costing taxpayers at least $1.2 billion – and legislators refuse to say how much the cost has grown. https://t.co/V1BgXkywhU

— Kevin Kiley (@KevinKileyCA) October 30, 2025

As he goes ballistic about the future White House ballroom and its opulence, take a look at what’s in the works for the Golden State Capitol complex:

Project leaders, also known as the Joint Rules Committee, have not been forthcoming with information about how they’re spending the funds; only confirming information that is leaked to KCRA 3, including millions spent on Italian stonework, and the decision to add a hallway system that only lawmakers can use to avoid the public and media. The Legislature also continues to withhold documents that KCRA 3 has requested, which could shed light on how much the project is costing.

It is true that Newsom is not directly in charge of the project—but the facts show that he’s not just the bystander that he pretends to be. In fact, his inner circle is deeply involved; they just seem to have taken an omertà (code of silence).

Documents provided to KCRA 3 show Newsom’s director of operations has been part of a three-member executive committee that is expected to meet regularly and vote on final decisions about the project behind closed doors. The committee includes Newsom’s current Director of Operations Miroslava de la O, Democratic Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco and Democratic State Sen. John Laird.

Wait, so your director of operations is part of the executive committee for the project, yet you know next to nothing, Newsom? How convenient.

New: On CA Capitol Annex, Gov. Newsom said “as a taxpayer” he’d “like to know” about costs being kept from the public.

Turns out, his office’s Director of Operations has been on a panel that meets regularly and makes final decisions on the project in private. pic.twitter.com/4S8uZ5na7r

— Ashley Zavala (@ZavalaA) October 30, 2025

Much of the framework for the byzantine oversight of the work was authorized prior to Newsom’s term—but he’s been in office since early 2019, and he and the Dems have total one-party Democrat rule over the state. If you actually gave a rip about where the up to one billion taxpayer dollars are going, Mr. Newsom, I’m sure you could find out in the time it would take to read this article.

READ MORE: Sean Duffy Brings Down the Hammer on California’s Utterly Failed Transportation Boondoggle

Gavin Newsom Makes a Craven Pivot on Charlie Kirk, and He’s Hoping You Didn’t Notice

Here’s a damning statement from a member of the Public Accountability For Our Capitol Political Action Committee, Luree Stetson:

When asked if she’s convinced the governor does not know how much the building costs Stetson said, “I don’t know if the governor would or not. His staff might. Whether his staff informed him of that, we’ve tried to get in touch with the governor over the last five years also and never heard back from him.”

Don’t worry, give it another five, maybe he’ll call. Oh, and guess what else? Mr. “I Know Nothing” seems to know some things after all:

Newsom has approved legislation appropriating funds for the project. He also signed a bill in 2024 that exempted the new building from California’s Environmental Quality Act to cease the litigation that had been stalling it.

Notice how when progressives are in charge, the environment is everything when considering your car, your stove, your washing machine—just not their pet billion-dollar projects.

Zavala is doing—and is continuing to do—yeoman’s work here, because she is one of the few Sacramento journalists willing to ask Newsom actual questions and try to pin him down on his slippery, gesticulating non-answers. For the governor to be railing against a free ballroom while this mystery-shrouded, taxpayer-funded temple to progressivism is being built right outside his office is the epitome of gall, but we’ve sadly gotten used to that around here. 

If the building—if and when it is ever completed—were a metaphor for the governor and his policies, I would expect it to be shiny from far away, exceedingly bland when viewed up close, and built to the shoddiest standards they could get away with.

My guess is that if you threw a stone at it… It would shatter.

Editor’s Note: The Schumer Shutdown is here. Rather than put the American people first, Chuck Schumer and the radical Democrats forced a government shutdown for healthcare for illegals. They own this.