Gavin Newsom Pushes Back After Reporter Accuses Him of Normalizing Trump.
During a recent appearance on “Meet the Press,” California Governor Gavin Newsom faced a challenging question from NBC reporter Kristen Welker regarding his social media strategy that includes mocking former President Donald Trump. The exchange highlighted the ongoing debate about the normalization of Trump’s behavior in political discourse.
The Confrontation
Welker began by noting Newsom’s outspoken criticism of Trump and questioned whether his tactic of imitating Trump’s social media style risks normalizing the former president’s behavior. “You mimic his posts, you send out similar memes. Do you run the risk of normalizing that behavior?” she asked.
In response, Newsom firmly rejected the notion that his approach could be seen as normalizing Trump. “Quite the contrary. The whole expression was to not allow it to be normalized,” he explained. He argued that Trump’s bizarre communications—such as dressing up as the Pope or Superman—were already absurd and needed to be highlighted rather than ignored.
The Evolution of Political Communication
Newsom referenced Michelle Obama’s famous quote, “When they go low, we go high,” acknowledging the shift in political dynamics that has occurred since it was first articulated. “Politics have changed. The world’s changed. The rules of the game have changed,” he stated, indicating that new strategies are necessary to address current political challenges.
He emphasized the need for a communication strategy that reflects the realities of today’s political landscape. “We have to rewrite the new rules,” he asserted, stressing that the anxiety and fear many Americans feel cannot be ignored.
Critique of Media Normalization
The dialogue took a broader turn as Newsom criticized the media for its role in normalizing Trump’s behavior. He argued that the press has largely accepted Trump’s erratic online presence, leading to a situation where outrageous statements go unreported or are treated as commonplace. “The normalization of deviance across the spectrum of issues has been accepted,” he said.
Newsom pointed out that when he uses similar tactics, he is merely holding a mirror to the absurdity of Trump’s actions. He described it as an effort to ensure that the public recognizes the ridiculousness of such behavior, rather than allowing it to fade into the background.
The Importance of Accountability
The governor contended that the media’s focus on his actions, rather than on Trump’s original behavior, reflects a troubling tendency to equate both sides in a way that obscures responsibility. “This is an effort to play the both sides game, and I am so damn sick of it,” he remarked, criticizing the media for deflecting attention from Trump’s actions.
Newsom’s approach aims to draw attention to the extremes of political communication, using satire to challenge the status quo. He believes that by doing so, he can help the public see the absurdity of Trump’s methods and encourage a more informed discourse.
Conclusion
Gavin Newsom’s exchange with Kristen Welker underscores the complexities of modern political communication and the role of the media in shaping public perception. By using satire to critique Trump’s behavior, Newsom aims to highlight the absurdity of the current political climate while pushing back against the normalization of extreme rhetoric. As political dynamics continue to evolve, the strategies employed by leaders like Newsom will likely play a crucial role in how political discourse is shaped in the future.
