California Governor Gavin Newsom’s sharp social media trolling of Fox News hosts Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld sparked public outrage and hilarious meltdown moments, exposing partisan double standards while leaving audiences both entertained and stunned by his bold, unfiltered approach.
California Governor Gavin Newsom is once again at the center of a political firestorm, this time for his relentless and sharply humorous trolling of conservative media figures, culminating in a public meltdown by Fox News host Dana Perino.
The latest episode unfolded after Newsom’s press office, using a social media account on X, posted a series of mocking messages in a style reminiscent of former President Donald Trump, targeting Fox personalities and the network itself.
“DANA ‘DING DONG’ PERINO (NEVER HEARD OF HER UNTIL TODAY!) IS MELTING DOWN BECAUSE OF ME, GAVIN C.
NEWSOM!” the governor’s X account wrote, immediately drawing attention from both political pundits and the public.
The account, which has cultivated a satirical and exaggerated persona to lampoon conservative figures, followed up with another post blasting Fox News coverage and contrasting Newsom’s popularity with former President Trump’s recent struggles.
“FOX HATES THAT I AM AMERICA’S MOST FAVORITE GOVERNOR (‘RATINGS KING’) SAVING AMERICA — WHILE TRUMP CAN’T EVEN CONQUER THE ‘BIG’ STAIRS ON AIR FORCE ONE ANYMORE!!! TRUMP HAS ‘LOST HIS STEP’ AND FOX IS LOSING IT BECAUSE WHEN I TYPE, AMERICA NOW WINS!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.— GCN,” the message read, all in capital letters for dramatic effect.
Perino, a co-host of Fox’s The Five, addressed the posts directly on air, revealing her visible frustration with the governor’s antics.
“If you’re doing this and it’s not authentic and you’re trying to do somebody else who you say is Hitler and you think that we don’t get the joke, oh no, we get the joke, it’s just not funny,” she said, pushing back on the comedic approach Newsom had employed.
Her comments signaled a rare instance of a Fox News personality publicly admitting to being affected by a political opponent’s social media tactics.
The trolling did not stop with Perino.
Newsom’s press office also targeted Fox host Greg Gutfeld, known for his recurring critiques of the governor.
“I SELDOM WATCH LOW-RATED ‘GARBAGEMAN’ GREG GUTFELD BUT, WHEN I DO, I MARVEL AT THE FAKE LAUGHTER ON THE SHOW.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD ‘LAUGH MACHINE,’ IT’S SO OBNOXIOUS AND DISGUSTING, JUST LIKE HIM, ALWAYS LAUGHING NO MATTER WHAT IS SAID,” the X post read.
Another post added, “REAL PATRIOTS HATE IT WHEN FOX (‘EDITS THE TAPES’) PUTS GARBAGEMAN GREG ON.
FOX OUGHT TO ‘GET SMART,’ AND NOT USE LOSERS LIKE THIS.
ALSO, THEY SHOULDN’T ALLOW NEGATIVE ADS ABOUT ME. THANK YOU! — GCN.”
Political analysts note that Newsom’s trolling strategy is particularly effective because it forces conservatives to confront the absurdity of their media culture while drawing sharp comparisons to Trump’s unfiltered social media style.
Newsom’s posts parody the bombastic and all-caps style commonly associated with the former president, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in how conservative figures respond to satirical versus earnest political messaging.
Perino’s response, calling Newsom’s humor “not funny,” contrasts sharply with the widespread coverage and attention Trump receives when posting similar messages unironically.
Observers argue that this dichotomy has created a unique political moment in which Newsom’s deliberate exaggeration exposes both the fragility and the performative outrage of certain Fox News personalities.
The broader political impact of these posts extends beyond cable television.
Social media users and political commentators quickly amplified Newsom’s messages, sparking viral debates about the role of satire in modern politics, the influence of conservative media on public perception, and the double standards that may exist in partisan reactions to online commentary.
Memes, reposts, and commentary on Newsom’s trolling have dominated X, further magnifying the governor’s reach and influence while putting Fox News in a defensive posture.
Newsom himself has long been known for his active social media presence, frequently leveraging humor and irony to engage audiences and critique opponents.
His team’s posts on X demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of both meme culture and political strategy, using exaggeration and humor to highlight perceived absurdities in political coverage and public discourse.
As of mid-2025, this ongoing feud shows no signs of abating.
Conservative media personalities continue to react, sometimes with visible irritation, while progressive and independent commentators praise the governor’s creative approach to political engagement.
The dynamic illustrates a shift in political communication where social media satire can drive public attention, influence narrative framing, and provoke highly visible reactions from traditional media outlets.
In a political climate increasingly dominated by online platforms and viral content, Gavin Newsom’s trolling represents a new frontier of digital strategy, blending comedy, criticism, and provocation.
By turning the lens back on conservative media, the governor not only entertains a national audience but also forces reflection on the ways in which politics, media, and social influence intersect in the modern era.
Whether viewed as clever satire or strategic provocation, the impact on both media narratives and public discourse is undeniable.
