Imagine a governor’s press team posting something so poorly timed that it gets referred to the Secret Service for a threat assessment.
That’s exactly what happened when California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office took to X with a cryptic jab at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, igniting a firestorm of criticism from conservative leaders and Trump administration officials.
Breitbart reported that on Saturday, the press office for Newsom posted a message on X implying that Noem would face a tough day, a statement many interpreted as a veiled threat, especially given the tragic context of recent political violence following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.
This controversy erupted just 11 days after Kirk was tragically killed on September 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University, shot by 22-year-old Tyler Robinson.
Details surrounding Robinson, the assailant, revealed by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, paint a complex picture, including Robinson’s differing ideology from his conservative family and a personal relationship with a transgender partner.
Additional reports noted Robinson’s engagement with controversial online content, further muddying the motives behind the horrific act that claimed Kirk’s life.
National figures, including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, publicly mourned Kirk, with Trump announcing a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom for the conservative activist.
The timing of Newsom’s office’s post couldn’t have been worse, coming just before a memorial weekend for Kirk and only 10 days after Newsom himself had publicly condemned the assassination.
Conservative voices didn’t hold back, with Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, stepping in to refer the matter to the Secret Service for a thorough threat evaluation.
Essayli stated, “We have zero tolerance for direct or implicit threats against government officials.” His swift action underscores the gravity of perceived threats in today’s charged political climate, where words can too easily be weaponized.
Three hours after the initial post, Newsom’s team attempted to clarify their intent by sharing a press release about new legislation to protect immigrant communities and challenge Trump policies, but the damage was already done.
Critics weren’t buying the follow-up, pointing out that the original message’s tone felt too flippant for a time of national mourning over Kirk’s death.
Daily Wire host Matt Walsh remarked, “This is, nearly verbatim, what multiple accounts on this site were tweeting about Charlie prior to his assassination.” Such parallels send a chilling reminder of how quickly online rhetoric can spiral into real-world consequences, especially in a nation still reeling from loss.
Newsom’s track record of pointed language doesn’t help his case, from past podcast remarks about physically confronting political opponents to promoting divisive memes earlier in September 2025.
Even a campaign event rebranding after Kirk’s death—originally dubbed with a provocative acronym—shows a pattern of edgy messaging that often lands Newsom in hot water with conservatives who see it as reckless.
While spirited debate is the lifeblood of democracy, the line between tough talk and dangerous provocation seems blurrier by the day, and Newsom’s latest misstep only fuels the argument that leaders must tread carefully with their words.