Story perspectives

Newsom's Mixed Tactics: Humor or Unbecoming Deviancy?

12/4/2025

Summary

Story summary

Gavin Newsom criticized the social media style of U.S. President Donald Trump as "the normalization of deviancy" and "unbecoming" of a president during the New York Times DealBook Summit.
Newsom's team adopted similar tactics, including capital letters and mocking nicknames, to provoke audience reactions.
Reactions to this strategy have been mixed, with Donna Brazile arguing that serious times require serious leadership.
Bill Maher praised Newsom's approach as humorous.

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Story summary

Gavin Newsom criticized the social media style of U.S. President Donald Trump as "the normalization of deviancy" and "unbecoming" of a president during the New York Times DealBook Summit.
Newsom's team adopted similar tactics, including capital letters and mocking nicknames, to provoke audience reactions.
Reactions to this strategy have been mixed, with Donna Brazile arguing that serious times require serious leadership.
Bill Maher praised Newsom's approach as humorous.