Governor Gavin Newsom of California was seen joyfully partaking in a charitable event at his vineyard in the midst of turbulent, anti-immigration protests in Los Angeles. The governor indulged in a relaxed wine tasting session at the Odette Estate Winery, a location based in Napa Valley known for its ‘Vineyard Vibes’. This event’s purpose was the funding of the PlumpJack Foundation, established by the Governor’s own sister, which took place in the afternoon of June 7.
An onlooker at the event expressed shock at the Governor’s casual demeanor, sipping on his wine, donned in a simple V-neck t-shirt and a baseball cap. This behavior came as a stark contrast to the previous day’s scenes in Los Angeles which had been wrought with protestors clashing with the police, destruction of federal property, and an atmosphere ripe with violent tension.
However, as the governor was indulging his palate in Napa Valley, a storm of unrest of 400 miles distant rocked downtown Los Angeles. Protesters were arrested for throwing inflammatory projectiles at law enforcement while vehicles were set alight, providing a grim backdrop to the chaos on the streets. Graffiti messages scrawled on walls read ‘KILL ICE’ and ‘F–K ICE.’, showing the level of anger against immigration enforcement.
The CAPTCHA protests, ostensibly sparked by ICE’s actions against undocumented immigrants, had grown so intense that President Trump invoked the National Guard, contrary to Newsom’s wishes. The Governor expressed his disapproval of Trump’s actions, maintaining that the move inflamed the situation further. Despite the turbulence, Newsom stayed for an hour and a half at the charity event.
In Napa Valley, attendees at the ‘Vineyard Vibes’ event were treated to an array of ‘contemporary yet sophisticated’ wines and live jazz music. Locally sourced pizzas and smash burgers were also made available. In fact, Newsom’s representatives emphasized that the Governor ‘proudly attended’ the annual fundraiser for the UCSF Cancer Center, as a tribute to his mother who lost her battle to breast cancer at 55.
Active in its fight against cancer through prevention and education, the PlumpJack Foundation also aims to tackle the ongoing issue of poverty. The annual gathering played a critical role in raising funds for these initiatives. In addition to aiding in these causes, the event was also held on the premises of the Odette Estate Winery founded by Governor Newsom over ten years ago.
Governor Newsom, who may potentially bid for the presidency in 2028, has previously withstood criticism for being out of touch with the realities on the ground. In November 2020, he was found attending a dinner party despite advising Californian residents to restrict their social interactions in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A controversial image captured during that period showed Governor Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, without masks, contradicting the state-issued guidelines he was advocating to control the spread of the virus. This act of non-compliance with his own directives led to a public apology from Newsom.
The ongoing dispute between Newsom and Trump extends beyond this recent incident. The two political figures have been locked in legal disagreements over how to direct the actions of National Guard troops. Governor Newsom holds the position that the deployment was not only resource-draining, but also served to escalate the already volatile ground situation.
On the other hand, President Trump staunchly defended his decision, contending that the drastic measure was needed to reestablish peace and rein in the bedlam prevailing on the streets of LA. In the shadow of this political conflict, the charity event in Napa Valley continued oblivious to the brewing storm.