California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned in a Politico interview that President Trump’s jokes about a third term in 2028 should be taken seriously, calling them a threat to democracy.
Newsom, now in his second term and eyeing a possible 2028 run, made the remarks to Chris Cadelago, claiming: “I don’t think Donald Trump wants another election. You think for a second he wants one? I have two dozen Trump 2028 hats his folks keep sending me.”
“And you think he’s going to run again?” asked Cadelago.
“Don’t give me that,” answered Newsom. “Who spends $200 million on a ballroom at their home and then leaves the house? This is serious, guys. This is serious.
“So it’ll be Newsom–Trump in ’28?” pressed Cadelago.
Then Newsom fully responded:
“No. No. This guy doesn’t believe in free, fair elections. He tried to wreck this country. Were you there, January 6th? I think Fox was. At least they were in a lawsuit. They seem to have lost any memory of that. Shareholders didn’t. I mean, he tried to light democracy on fire. He dialed for almost 12,000 votes. Now he’s doing it in plain sight. And people say, ‘Oh, it’s just Trump being Trump.’ You people actually think this guy’s serious about having another election? You think he’s joking about 2028? You think when he brings foreign leaders to the Oval Office and he goes to the White House store—have you seen this? Anyone? Is it just me?—and he shows them the 2028 hats, he’s not being serious? Wake up. You will lose your country.”
Donald Trump isn’t joking about 2028. pic.twitter.com/eVufjgIcLj
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 28, 2025
President Trump told NBC News in May that he has no plans for a third term, noting that many supporters urge him to run in 2028, but acknowledging it’s likely unconstitutional and “not something I’m looking to do.”
“I’m looking to have four great years and turn it over to somebody, ideally, a great Republican, a great Republican to carry it forward, but I think we’ll have four years,” said Trump. “And I think four years is plenty of time to do something really spectacular.”
Newsom claimed that he was unconvinced by Trump, and worried. “I’m not calm, and I’m not going to submit myself to niceties. Not when this guy is trying to wreck our goddamn country,” he told Politico.
