California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing online criticism following a political interview conducted during a fly-fishing outing with CNN anchor Jake Tapper in Montana. The interview, recorded over a month prior to its release, featured Newsom stating he would not run for president if Vice President Kamala Harris were to enter the race in 2028.
During the exchange, set in shallow water with both individuals casting fly reels, Newsom responded to Tapper's question about a potential primary challenge against Harris. "Of course not. Why would I?" Newsom stated. "I wouldn’t do that to her. I wouldn’t do it to me. Why would I? I wouldn’t do that to you." He further elaborated that he would not "waste everyone’s time" on a presidential run under such circumstances. Newsom described the scenario as a "gift from God for everybody else" and warned against a primary contest, calling it "mutually assured destruction."
He also appeared to misstate "Venn diagram" as "Zen diagram" when discussing the potential overlap between his supporters and Harris's base.
The interview's setting and Newsom's remarks quickly drew criticism on social media. Users characterized the fly-fishing scenario as staged and unnatural. Comments on X (formerly Twitter) questioned Newsom's attire for fly-fishing and sarcastically noted the coincidence of a film and sound crew being present. One user referred to the event as the "French Laundry of fishing," referencing a previous controversy involving Newsom dining out during COVID-19 restrictions.
Newsom's office did not respond to requests for comment by the time of publication.