California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that Donald Trump took his third term seriously and violated the U.S. Constitution, warning Americans to “wake up” what he said was a president who blatantly ignored democratic norms.
“I don't think Donald Trump wants another election,” Democrats said in a live interview at a summit in Politico in Sacramento. “This guy doesn't believe in free, fair elections.”
Newsom, which has gained national attention in recent weeks for its ruthless trolls to Trump online and is widely regarded as the future Presidential contenders say he is growing in “Trump 2028” hats – a sharp gift from presidential supporters.
“Do you think he's kidding in 2028?” Newsom asked the audience. Noting Trump's ambitious and controversial plan to build a 90,000-square-foot state ballroom in the White House East Wing, filled with golden decorations, responding to his construction at the Mar-A-Lago resort in Florida, Newsom said: “Who spent $200 million on stage in their homes and houses?”
He declared: “The rule of law was replaced by the rules of the Tang Dynasty.”
The governor has previously warned that Trump will try to overturn his term with unfounded election fraud as he tries to overturn Joe Biden's victory, as he tries to overturn Joe Biden.
But on Wednesday, Newsom added a new data point to his case, indicating that Trump raised the topic at a 90-minute Oval Office meeting in February. The governor has traveled to Washington to seek federal disaster aid to help Los Angeles recover after the deadly fires – aid in the new Trump threatens to withhold as political leverage. According to Newsom, Trump pointed to the portrait of Franklin D Roosevelt, the only U.S. president to serve more than one term.
“I said, 'I know exactly what you mean.'” Newsom said. “Then he went on about the third semester.”
The details of political leaders, especially the current governor, engage in Oval Office communication with the president are unusual. But Newsom doesn't seem shocked by the breach of the agreement. “Obviously there are no rules,” he said.
Although Trump has said he would be “eight-year president” and is banned by the constitution for a third term, he has been entertained several times. Trump cited Roosevelt as a precedent, suggesting that there are ways to circumvent the 22 amendment, which says: “No one can be elected to the presidential office more than twice.”
Trump was asked in an interview earlier this month if he would run again, “No, probably not.” But later he added: “I want to run. I have the best poll number ever.” (Recent polls show that Trump's approval rate has dropped since returning to the White House, although voters believe his second term is more positive than his second term.)
Newsom said what was discussed during the Oval Office meeting, and he said the conversation also involved what he called the president's “cryptocurrency.” According to Newsom, Trump shared that he was surprised to learn that the “memorial” was “not even a coin.”
During the interview, Newsom also urged Democrats to stand up, “fight against the fire he's engaged in California” and made a redistricting proposal that would offset Trump's highly respected Grimander to secure five more Republican seats in Texas. Californians will vote in November whether to temporarily cover the state’s independent redivision committee and adopt a new congressional map that will give Democrats an edge in five Republican-owned U.S. House areas.
Newsom's more aggressive posture, especially his online mockery of Trump and his Republican allies – seems fascinating. This week, Trump fired backwards, calling California governor a “good guy” who “looks good” but is also “incompetent”.
Newsom implored Americans to take Trump's threat seriously on Wednesday.
“Wake up,” he said. “We lost this country in real time. It's not caused, it's not exaggeration.”