Chris Cillizza: How The Los Angeles Protests Made Gavin Newsom a 2028 Power Player

"In this video, Chris Cillizza breaks down how California Governor Gavin Newsom is using the ongoing protests in Los Angeles—sparked by Donald Trump’s deportation policies and the deployment of National Guard troops—as a political springboard for his likely 2028 presidential run. Cillizza argues that Newsom is positioning himself as the “leader of the opposition” to Trump, capitalizing on the media spotlight and leaning into direct conflict with the former president. Newsom’s viral messaging, including a defiant response to a Trump ally's suggestion he be arrested, has elevated his national profile.

While this benefits Newsom individually, Cillizza warns it could backfire on the broader Democratic Party if the unrest turns violent. He notes that images of chaos and law enforcement clashes typically help Trump politically, especially on immigration—a core strength of his. In sum, Cillizza sees this as a clear example of how political opportunity grows out of national crisis, with Newsom playing the moment skillfully, even if it's risky for Democrats overall." 

Source:Chris Cillizza with a look at LA Law & Order with Governor Gavin Newsom.

From Chris Cillizza

As The New Democrat said yesterday: Donald Trump is doing Gavin Newsom huge favor by making the California Democrat look like he's the 1 standing for the rule of law and Constitution. Why DJT plays Dictator Don.

From The New Democrat

As we posted yesterday on The New Democrat: 

President Donald John Trump: 

"Look, I like Gavin, he's a nice guy. But he's doing a terrible job... and then the President went on to talk about some building project in California that he's claims is very late and well over budget."

Ederik Schneider:  And then he claimed everything that he builds is always done under budget and finished early. 

From The New Democrat

As Kire Schneider wrote yesterday: 

"This is exactly what we're talking about. Let's say (God forbid) that Governor Newsom is the Democratic nominee for President in 2028... that's how Republicans are going to want to paint the Governor politically: some out-of-touch, California, hippie-leftist, who thinks the police are the real criminals, who wants the national government to run everyone's lives for them. But then you got President Trump coming in and threatening to arrest the Governor, because Newsom disagrees with how the President is responding to the Los Angeles protests. 

Democrats in 2026, 27, and 28, even 25, want to run against Donald Trump because they see him as a wannabe dictator and real threat to our Constitution, republic, our form of government, the rule of law, etc. And the President just made that job a helluva lot easier by making Governor Newsom look like the guy who is standing for our Constitution, checks and balances, and rule of law. That's the real point of this story. Not what Jesse Dollemore or some other left-wing commentator thinks about Gavin Newsom on social media." 

From The New Democrat

I think Chris Cillizza is really just stating the obvious here. I mean he starts off his video by saying: 

"National crisis's creates political opportunity. Always has, always will". Not what you would call a brilliant observation. 

I mean Jimmy Carter got elected President of the United States because of Watergate in the mid 1970s and the fact that he was an outsider Democrat, from Georgia, who also had strong record on civil rights and was popular with African-Americans, as well as rural Anglo-Saxons. And there many other examples like that. And this is not a brilliant observation on my part, but it makes my point. 

So why am I'm writing a blog post in response to what Chris Cillizz's  unenlightening video here? Because the weather is once again very warm, sunny, and gorgeous in Washington and it's a slow news day. And with all due respect to MSNBC: Gavin Newsom saying that Donald Trump is endangering American democracy, is not "breaking news". Unless you have nothing else to talk about and we want to keep the left-wing of the Democratic Party as part of your audience. Which is probably why they're saying that. 

But The New Democrat made this point on Monday and Chris Cilliza sort of backs up what we are saying here. Donald Trump is a political Christmas gift for Governor Newsom right now. And maybe privately Donald Trump and the rest of MAGA wants the Governor to be the Democratic nominee for President in 2028. Especially if the economy is crashing with the records deficits, debt, inflation, and interest rates (unless Republican change fiscal course here) because they think they can paint the Governor as some out-touch, hippie-leftist, elitist, California Democrat, who looks down at the rest of the country, especially Americans who live in the middle part of the country and Southeast. 

But, when you are threatening and just use the National Guard against protestors, simply because you don't think that people who disagree with you have a right to protest, (meaning you don't believe in the First Amendment) and then you also threaten to arrest people simply for disagreeing with you, especially the Governor of the most populated state in America, who happens to also be from the opposition party, you end up painting yourself as the out-of-touch extremist. And open the door for even a left-wing California Democrat, to come in looking like the champion of rule of law, the Constitution, and free speech in America. Which is the exact, unintentional, political favor, that Donald Trump has done for Gavin Newsom. 

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