President Donald Trump declared Monday night that California Gov. Gavin Newsom had exited the presidential race, prompting a sharp response from the governor’s team and intensifying an already public back-and-forth between the two political figures, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
The exchange began when President Trump posted on Truth Social: “Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!!”
pic.twitter.com/YCxt11AHcu [2]
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 24, 2026 [3]
Newsom’s press team responded on X shortly afterward, writing: “WOW. THE PRESIDENT IS SUNDOWNING HARDER THAN USUAL TONIGHT!!!”
WOW. THE PRESIDENT IS SUNDOWNING HARDER THAN USUAL TONIGHT!!! — GOVERNOR GCN https://t.co/bHaXaR8Nhu [4]
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 24, 2026 [5]
The social media clash followed an online dispute involving Newsom’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and the president over the U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team.
President Trump had joked that he would be impeached if he failed to invite both the men’s and women’s gold medal-winning teams to the White House.
In response, Siebel Newsom criticized the president after the women’s team declined to visit.
She wrote: “Clearly they prefer arenas where women are actually respected! As they should.”
The exchange added to speculation surrounding Newsom’s political future. Although he has not officially launched a presidential campaign, rumors have circulated as the governor travels the country promoting his new memoir.
Earlier in the week, Newsom addressed the possibility of a White House bid during an interview with CNN. When asked what could stand in his way, he replied: “There are five of them.”
He continued: “It will be done as a family, and it’ll be done as a unit. It will be done as a partnership.”
Pressed further on whether his family wants him to run, Newsom acknowledged uncertainty. “It depends on the day,” he admitted.
