Bill Maher Tried To Compare Gavin Newsom To Donald Trump, Newsom Was Having None Of It

California Governor Gavin Newsom defended his displacement toward much confrontational governmental tactics, telling talk show big Bill Maher that his usage of Trump-like rhetoric is simply a deliberate effort to expose nan “absurdity” of nan modern governmental landscape.

During an quality connected Friday’s section of Real Time pinch Bill Maher, nan politician addressed questions regarding his caller connection style, which has included combative societal media posts and high-profile litigation.

“Among each nan group who whitethorn aliases whitethorn not beryllium running, you are nan 1 who benignant of imitates his style pinch nan trolling — you’re suing Fox now, I understand,” Maher said to Newsom. “That sounds precisely for illustration what he does.”

Newsom rejected nan comparison, characterizing his actions arsenic a strategical reflection of his opponents.

“I’m trying to put a reflector up to Donald Trump,” Newsom said. “We’re conscionable trying to bespeak that reality and definitive nan absurdity of each of this.”

The chat follows a ruling by a Delaware judge this week that Newsom’s $787 cardinal defamation suit against Fox News whitethorn proceed to nan find phase. The suit alleges nan web knowingly distorted Newsom’s relationship of a telephone telephone pinch Donald Trump during nan June 2025 Los Angeles protests.

In his ruling, nan judge recovered it was “reasonably conceivable” that nan web acted pinch existent malice, rejecting an effort to disregard nan lawsuit connected First Amendment grounds. The determination opens nan doorway for Newsom’s ineligible squad to entree soul communications, including emails and editorial discussions, from nan network.

“Looking guardant to discovery,” Newsom wrote connected X pursuing nan decision.

Maher remained skeptical of nan governor’s methods, noting nan irony of a high-profile Democrat utilizing litigation against media outlets — a believe often associated pinch nan Trump presidency.

“That sounds precisely for illustration what he does, suing media,” Maher said.

“We’re going into discovery,” Newsom replied. “Fox amended look to settee correct now aliases apologize for defamation,” Newsom replied.

Maher countered: “Okay, again, but that does sound for illustration him.”

The speech has prompted statement among governmental observers. While caller polling shows Newsom astatine nan apical of nan 2028 Democratic field, immoderate viewers questioned nan efficacy of nan governor's persona.

“Newsom has nan argumentation and swagger to make a heavy tally for nan presidency,” 1 perceiver noted successful an online forum pursuing nan interview. “I situation his opponents to do more. Trump will beryllium replaced, let’s make it a title to nan top.”

Others were much captious of nan politician and nan host.

One spectator suggested Maher has go “intellectually lazy” and “only knows nan apical level talking points” connected analyzable issues. Another dismissed nan governor’s online strategy, stating, “Tweeting mean things astir Trump isn't capable to beryllium considered a candidate.”