Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) criticized President Donald Trump’s primetime address he gave on Thursday regarding election security, accusing him of spreading falsehoods to undermine confidence in the 2026 midterm elections.
Gavin Newsom Slams Trump’s Election Claims
Newsom blasted Trump’s televised speech questioning the security of U.S. elections, calling it the “ramblings of a mad king” in a 53-second video posted on X.
“Well, the only thing missing tonight in Donald Trump’s speech was tin foil,” Newsom said, referencing Trump’s long-standing and widely disputed claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
The California governor argued that while “foreign interference in our elections” is a legitimate concern, “nothing about what you watched tonight, though, was real. It’s make-believe.”
Newsom also suggested Trump’s remarks presented a “legitimate” case for invoking the 25th Amendment, which outlines the constitutional process for removing a president who is unable to discharge the duties of the office.
He further accused Trump of attempting to cast doubt on the upcoming midterm elections before ballots are even cast.
“He needs to rig the election before one vote was cast,” Newsom said. “That’s what that whole thing was about tonight.”
This is a 25th Amendment moment.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 17, 2026
I just watched the ramblings of a mad king and what else can I say — the only thing missing was tin foil.
Donald Trump is trying to rig our elections and we have to stop him.
Show up and VOTE this November. pic.twitter.com/iAFPo9GIed
Read Also: Gavin Newsom Accuses Trump Of 'Corrupt Backroom Deals' As California Threatens Lawsuit
Donald Trump’s Election Narrative Faces Pushback
Newsom, widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, has emerged as one of Trump’s most vocal critics as the administration ramps up its messaging ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The president used Thursday’s address to announce the declassification of documents he claimed revealed “shocking” vulnerabilities in voting machines and alleged Chinese interference in his 2020 loss to former President Joe Biden.
However, an Associated Press analysis found little new information in the released documents, noting that some were so heavily redacted that their findings were difficult to determine.
The renewed focus on election fraud claims has also unsettled some Republican lawmakers, who worry revisiting unproven allegations from 2020 could overshadow the party’s legislative agenda ahead of the midterms, The Hill noted.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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