Kellyanne Conway argued Friday that President Donald Trump forges a genuine bond with voters that Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom cannot match, particularly as Newsom flirts with national ambitions.
According to the Daily Caller, Newsom recently hosted Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro on his podcast, This Is Gavin Newsom, in what appeared to be an attempt to showcase his willingness to engage with conservative voices. Conway, appearing on Fox News Jesse Watters Primetime, contended that the governors media strategy is less about honest debate and more about lecturing right-leaning figures while glossing over his own shifting positions, which she said voters can easily spot.
I guess Gavin Newsom wasnt invited on Ben Shapiros podcast, so he figured Ill invite him on mine, and Ill let him school and rule me, which is what happened. Jesse, this would be a brilliant strategy to get to the White House, except we have cameras and recording devices, Conway told host Jesse Watters. So we know right away if youve changed your mind and your fundamental position from last decade, last year, last month, last week, in this case. And its not a smart strategy because the road to the White House doesnt run through people speaking their mind, not changing their mind.
Conway contrasted Newsoms approach with Trumps, saying the president built credibility by clearly and repeatedly stating his priorities. In an era when many politicians appear to tailor their views to the latest poll, she argued that Trumps consistency set him apart and resonated with voters who are weary of political shape-shifting.
I think Donald Trump showed us how to do that. You have to be authentic. Authenticity is also consistency. It means that youre principled and you keep saying the thing over, same thing over and over again so that repetition becomes reiteration, becomes what voters associate back to you, Conway added. And they say, Oh, youre the guy who wants to build the wall, cut my taxes, peace through strength. Youre the guy whos going to take on Russia and China and Iran.'
Newsom has been edging closer to the national stage, openly acknowledging in October 2025 that he would consider a run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028. Until then, he had kept his intentions deliberately vague, even as his frequent travel and heightened profile in early primary states like South Carolina drew comparisons to a prospective presidential candidate.
Conway suggested that while Newsoms image and status might carry him through a Democratic primary, his record as governor would be a serious liability in a general election. Thats not apt to change because of the forum in which you are. So look, theres a world in which I can see Gavin Newsom winning the Democratic primary. Sure. Theres probably enough of a vote out there for the swagger and the good looks and just the bigness of being the governor of California, Conway said.
She then pointed to Californias deep-seated problems as evidence that Newsoms progressive governance has failed the very people he claims to champion. But how do you win the general election when you have 12% of the nations population, but 28% to 29% of its homeless? You have the highest unemployment rate in the country. Your chief of water had no water when the fires hit a year ago.
Newsom has tried to defend his record by touting what he described as a modest decline in homelessness during his final year in office, claiming a single-digit percentage drop. Critics, however, argue that the figures he cites do not fully account for the states sprawling homeless population, and California has continued to post the highest homeless totals in the country throughout his tenure.
Upon taking office in 2019, Newsom promised a sweeping statewide effort to confront homelessness, casting it as both a moral stain and an economic failure. His administration announced on Jan. 8 that data submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development showed an estimated 9% reduction in the unsheltered population, yet the scale of visible encampments and persistent disorder has fueled skepticism among voters who see little improvement on the ground.
For conservatives, the contrast Conway drew between Trumps clarity and Newsoms record underscores a broader ideological divide over leadership and accountability. As Democrats look ahead to 2028, Newsoms polished rhetoric and media maneuvers may appeal to the partys base, but his stewardship of Californias economy, public safety, and homelessness crisis will likely face intense scrutiny from a national electorate that has already seen the real-world results of progressive governance on the West Coast.
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