California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday night characterized former President Donald Trump’s recent speech on election fraud as an attempt to preemptively rig the upcoming midterm elections. Newsom stated that Trump’s remarks, filled with conspiracy theories, were indicative of a larger problem.
“Well, the only thing missing tonight from Donald Trump’s speech was tin foil,” Newsom said, according to reporting from HuffPost. “This was a legitimate 25th Amendment moment, the ramblings of a mad king.”
The 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution outlines a process by which the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet can declare a president unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, temporarily transferring those responsibilities to the vice president.
Newsom dismissed Trump’s claims as “make-believe,” asserting that Trump aims to manipulate the electoral process before any votes are cast.
“He wants to rig the election in 2026. He knows he’s going to lose. He needs to rig the election before one vote was cast,” Newsom stated. “That’s what that whole thing was about tonight.”
While Trump is not on the ballot in the current election cycle, his approval ratings are considered a significant factor affecting Republican candidates nationwide. Analysts widely predict that the Republican Party may lose control of the House of Representatives, with some forecasts suggesting Democrats could also gain a majority in the Senate.
Newsom, who is reportedly considering a presidential run in 2028, encouraged voters to participate in large numbers in the upcoming elections. He urged them to reject Trump’s agenda and “end Donald Trump’s presidency as we know it.”