Actor James Woods sharply criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom during an interview with commentator Benny Johnson, accusing the governor of dishonesty, poor leadership, and policies that have harmed California residents.
Johnson began by asking Woods to compare Newsom to some of the villainous characters he has portrayed during his acting career.
“You’ve played Hades. You’ve interacted with actual demons,” Johnson said. “Are they worse than Gavin Newsom?”
Woods responded with an extended critique of the California governor.
“Well, here’s what’s really horrible about Gavin Newsom, if I may say so,” Woods said. “He’s a grifter. There’s no two ways about it.”
He continued, “He’s just such a… wish I were more eloquent about this, but you know he’s a grifter. He’s a liar. He’s a cheater. He’s done every single disgusting thing a man can do with a wife, with a state, with friends.”
Woods also criticized Newsom’s conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing to the governor’s attendance at a dinner at the French Laundry restaurant while many Californians remained under strict public health restrictions.
“In the middle of COVID, he not only is not wearing his mask while they’re arresting some guy all alone on a beach, but he’s at the French Laundry,” Woods said.
He added that the restaurant “was $1,100 per person,” and accused Newsom and others in attendance of ignoring rules imposed on the public.
“They’re all sitting there with their masks off, laughing about the peons who have to walk around with these paper diapers on their face and their kids.”
Woods also said he is looking forward to future testimony from former White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“I cannot wait, by the way, for the Fauci testimony,” Woods said. “I cannot wait for this.”
Turning to immigration, Woods questioned what he described as inconsistent standards during the pandemic.
“I don’t know what’s going on now in the world, in America especially,” Woods said.
He contrasted COVID-era vaccine expectations with illegal immigration at the southern border.
“You wouldn’t invite my wife to a dinner party because she didn’t take the vaccine, but you let 30 million people stroll across the border.”
Woods continued, “They’re not vaccinated. They’re all military age males, you know.”
He added, “What has happened to this country is, I’m just in shock.”
According to Woods, Newsom represents what he sees as broader problems within today’s Democratic Party.
“Gavin Newsom, to answer your question, represents everything about that aspect of the party,” Woods said.
He also criticized the Democratic Socialists of America.
“The Democratic Socialists of America are lunatics. I mean, they’re just lunatics. Nuts. Goodbye. You’re nuts.”
Woods then referenced recent polling comparing Newsom’s standing with another Democratic figure.
“I love the recent poll that the bartender… she’s what is she like? 22%. Gavin Newsom is 8%. It was just so delightful.”
Johnson then shifted the discussion to the California wildfires that affected Woods’ neighborhood.
“But he went to your neighborhood,” Johnson said. “I remember because you had to abandon and watch your own house burned down, and you’ve been in that house for decades, and you loved that place.”
Woods clarified what happened during the fires.
“No, no, actually, actually, it was even worse than that,” he said.
“We thought our house had burned down; it didn’t. Every house around us burned down, either partially or completely.”
Although his home remained standing, Woods said it sustained smoke damage.
“But we have smoke damage. Is another story.”
He also discussed losing his homeowners insurance shortly before the fires.
“Our insurance, you know, because State Farm, and I’ll say the name, canceled our insurance just a couple of months before the fire,” Woods said.
According to Woods, many of his neighbors experienced the same situation.
“Virtually everybody in our neighborhood except one guy,” he said. “They all call me up, say, ‘Did State Farm cancel you?’ And I go, ‘Yeah, you know.'”
While acknowledging the insurer’s decision, Woods said he places responsibility on Newsom’s policies rather than the insurance company itself.
“By the way, I don’t actually blame State Farm,” Woods said. “I blame again, Gavin Newsom, because he made it so impossible for them to actually survive as a business in the worst fire area in the state.”
He concluded by saying insurers had sought regulatory flexibility from the state but were denied.
“They said, ‘Look, you got to give us some leeway,’ and he didn’t.”
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