California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing heavy criticism after his official “@GovPressOffice” account posted a message mocking the release of Israeli hostages, drawing bipartisan condemnation and questions about his judgment.

The incident began on Tuesday, when Newsom’s press office responded to a White House post on X featuring a photograph of President Donald Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The White House photo marked the announcement of the release of 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack.

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Newsom’s official account replied by posting an image from the movie Dumb and Dumber—a move that many viewed as mocking both the leaders and the context of the hostage release.

The post remained online for 14 hours before being deleted, after mounting criticism from users who called the message “offensive” and “deeply disrespectful.”

Critics across social media platforms expressed outrage that the governor of California would post what appeared to be a joke about the freeing of hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists.

In order to commemorate the Gaza Peace Deal and the freedom of 20 innocent Israeli hostages, California Governor Gavin Newsom posted memes making fun of Trump and Netanyahu.

This is an elected government official in a state with a large Jewish and Israeli population. pic.twitter.com/hpfTagVMri

— The Persian Jewess (@persianjewess) October 14, 2025

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The attack on Israel last year left over 1,200 people dead and triggered an international hostage crisis that has drawn widespread humanitarian concern.

The timing of the post added further controversy.

The message was published on Shemini Atzeret, a Jewish holiday during which observant Jews refrain from using electronic devices. It also coincided with the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks on the Hebrew calendar, leading many to call the post especially inappropriate.

No public apology has been issued from Newsom or his communications staff.

Despite the deletion of the original post, the @GovPressOffice account left up a second post referencing the same event.

That message included a photo from Time magazine’s cover story about the hostage release and ceasefire deal, drawing attention to the skin on President Trump’s neck.

https://t.co/pGn2xOkfIb pic.twitter.com/qKescbwmQy

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 14, 2025

That post has also drawn criticism for its tone.

Political observers noted that the governor’s social media strategy has become increasingly combative in recent months, often taking direct aim at President Trump and other Republican leaders.

The escalation of tone through an official state account, however, marks a shift that some critics say crosses professional boundaries.

The @GovPressOffice account, which operates under Newsom’s supervision, is managed by state employees including Izzy Gardon, who has publicly identified himself as part of the governor’s communications team.

Gardon frequently engages in political disputes on X, responding directly to critics and media outlets.

Newsom’s use of his official office’s social media platform for partisan attacks has been a recurring point of contention, but the latest episode stands out for its international implications.

The post’s mockery of an event involving the release of Israeli hostages—a matter tied to ongoing conflict and humanitarian negotiations—has prompted backlash even from those previously neutral toward the governor’s social media activity.

While Newsom has not addressed the deleted post publicly, the controversy comes amid growing speculation about his national ambitions.

The governor has long been viewed as a potential presidential candidate, and political analysts suggest that posts of this nature could resurface in any future campaign as evidence of poor judgment in matters involving foreign policy and diplomacy.

The deleted post has already sparked discussions among lawmakers and media outlets about the appropriate boundaries of political expression from official state accounts, especially when those messages appear to mock victims of terrorism or sensitive international events.

As of Wednesday, neither the governor’s office nor the @GovPressOffice account has issued any clarification or statement acknowledging the controversy.

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