California Gov. Gavin Newsom is pushing back against criticism that his online antics mirror President Trump’s controversial social media behavior, saying his intention is to “put a mirror up to that madness,” not to normalize it.

In a wide-ranging interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Newsom was pressed by host Kristen Welker on whether his meme-fueled, all-caps posts risk legitimizing Trump’s digital playbook. The governor rejected that suggestion.

“Quite the contrary, the whole expression was to not allow it to be normalized. It was becoming normalized,” he said. “All this, he — the normalization of deviancy across this spectrum of issues, but his communication — he’s dressing up as the Pope, as Superman. He’s — hold on — he’s putting his face on Mount Rushmore. He’s saying ‘Thank you’. … it’s madness, and so I put a mirror up to that madness.”

Newsom, often mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, has adopted an increasingly provocative online presence. His posts often mimic Trump’s tone, brash, meme-driven, and unapologetically direct a move that has fueled both praise and backlash.

Last week, his press office shared an AI-generated image of the governor in a muscle-bound, “Star Wars”-inspired costume, captioned with a sharp political jab: “HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL — EXCLUDING THE RADICAL RIGHT EMPIRE WHO WANTS TO RIP AWAY FOOD, HEALTH CARE, AND HOPE FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE GALAXY!”

The post, widely shared on social platforms, appeared to parody a similar image of Trump released earlier this year by the White House, further blurring the line between political messaging and internet performance art.

While Newsom’s defenders view his social media strategy as modern political theater aimed at exposing extremism, critics argue it deepens the culture of online mockery dominating political discourse.

The California Democrat also used a separate interview with ABC’s Jonathan Karl to issue a stern warning about the 2024 presidential election, suggesting that foreign influence could compromise American democracy if his party doesn’t “stand up.”

“I’ll tell you what, we won’t have a country. We won’t have an election that’s fair and free if we don’t stand up, we won’t. There will not be a fair and free election, it’ll be a Putin election. Was it 87 percent or is it 87.3 percent?” he said.

As the political landscape heats up ahead of 2028, Newsom’s strategy of countering Trumpism through Trump-like methods highlights the evolving intersection of digital media, political branding, and voter influence, a space where social engagement, digital marketing, and political advertising all play crucial roles in shaping public perception.