Hold onto your hats, folks—California Governor Gavin Newsom just got a digital slap from none other than the Department of Homeland Security.
On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the DHS took to social media to poke fun at Newsom with a photo from a “No Kings” protest in Portland, Oregon, spotlighting a demonstrator in a rather vulgar costume, as Breitbart reports.
The image showed the protester dressed as, well, a giant piece of anatomy, holding a sign that read, “Deport Deez Nuts,” setting the stage for an eyebrow-raising jab at the governor.
The DHS didn’t hold back, captioning the post with a biting quip: “Breaking: Gavin Newsom has shown up to the riot!” (Department of Homeland Security).
Let’s be honest—that’s the kind of sharp humor we’ve come to expect from certain corners of the internet, but coming from a federal agency, it’s a bold move that underscores how even bureaucrats are playing the social media game.
Newsom, never one to shy away from a fight, fired back with a curt, “You’re an embarrassment.” (California Governor Gavin Newsom).
Sadly for the governor, his comeback didn’t exactly light up the internet, garnering little traction despite his ongoing quest to match the social media swagger of President Donald Trump.
For months, Newsom and his team have reveled in tossing out one-sided jabs online, earning applause from fellow Democrats, yet this latest exchange shows he’s still playing catch-up in the trolling arena.
Perhaps it’s time for the governor to rethink his strategy—trading barbs with a federal agency might not be the winning ticket he imagines.
The “No Kings” protest itself was a spectacle, featuring aging activists—dubbed “gran-tifa”—donning bizarre outfits that only added to the event’s absurdity as highlighted by the DHS.
Such displays, while perhaps intended as provocative, often veer into the realm of the ridiculous, handing ammunition to critics who see these gatherings as more theater than substance.
Still, one has to wonder if these protesters realize how easily their antics can be weaponized for a quick social media roast.
While Newsom points fingers at others for overreaching authority, critics note his own record in California includes sweeping executive actions, like banning group prayer in both public and private settings during the pandemic—a move later struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Some might argue this smacks of the very “kingly” behavior he’s quick to criticize in President Trump, raising questions about consistency in his leadership approach.
Meanwhile, as Newsom competes with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to be the loudest anti-Trump voice ahead of future Democratic ambitions, both are accused of sidestepping pressing policy challenges in their states to focus on political posturing.
