Newsom Abruptly Disowns His Own Press Office After Inflammatory ICE Smear
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s official communications operation has increasingly resembled an online agitprop account rather than a professional, taxpayer-funded government press office. The @GovPressOffice account on X has become notorious for its snide tone, juvenile insults, and repeated attempts to provoke outrage rather than inform the public. Instead of issuing clear policy statements, the account often behaves like a partisan troll, firing off reckless attacks aimed at Donald Trump and federal officials.
The press office has crossed the line more than once. In one particularly grotesque episode, it likened White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller to a Nazi SS officer — an accusation so extreme it would have been unthinkable from a serious government institution just a few years ago. Posts like that have fueled criticism that Newsom’s communications team operates without discipline, restraint, or basic professionalism.
But on Thursday, Newsom himself threw that same team under the bus.
During a public conversation on his podcast with conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, the governor abruptly walked back one of his own office’s most inflammatory statements — contradicting, in real time, the official messaging issued in his name. The sudden reversal reportedly did not sit well inside the governor’s orbit, where staffers had spent days pushing the narrative he now disavowed.
The controversy centered on a post published by Newsom’s press office following the ICE shooting involving Renee Good. The post consisted of three words, all in capital letters: “STATE. SPONSORED. TERRORISM.” The implication was unmistakable — that federal immigration officers were equivalent to terrorists acting on behalf of the government.
Shapiro did not let it slide.
During the exchange, he directly confronted Newsom over the rhetoric, pointing out that labeling law enforcement officers as terrorists only further degrades an already toxic political environment. When asked whether ICE agents should reasonably be described as terrorists, Newsom conceded the point — instantly undercutting his own communications team.
Shapiro pressed harder, noting that regardless of how tragic or controversial an incident may be, branding federal officers as terrorists is irresponsible and inflammatory. Newsom responded with a terse acknowledgment, offering no defense of the post and no justification for its language.
The moment was striking not just for what Newsom said — but for what he didn’t. He offered no explanation for how such a message was approved, no clarification of whether it reflected his views at the time, and no indication that the press office would face consequences for issuing it. Instead, he simply distanced himself from the statement once it became inconvenient.
The episode fits a growing pattern among progressive leaders: aggressive rhetoric when speaking to friendly audiences, followed by rapid retreat when challenged publicly. Newsom’s press shop has spent weeks echoing the same incendiary language used by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, framing ICE enforcement as an existential threat and portraying agents as villains rather than law enforcement officers.
Yet when asked to personally stand behind those claims, Newsom folded.
For a governor widely believed to harbor national ambitions, the incident raises serious questions about leadership and accountability. Either his press office is freelancing with taxpayer resources — or Newsom is willing to let his staff take the fall when political posturing backfires.
In either case, the message was clear: when the heat is on, Gavin Newsom won’t hesitate to sacrifice his own communications team to save himself.