Newsom Blasted for Using Taxpayer Dollars to Blame Trump Days Before Election
California Governor Gavin Newsom is under fire for greenlighting a wave of taxpayer-funded text messages that appear to blame President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans for a lapse in food stamp benefits — just days ahead of a high-stakes election.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) sent the messages to residents, warning that “President Trump & Congress failed to reopen federal government,” and that November CalFresh benefits — California’s version of food stamps — would be delayed. The message echoed statements posted on the department’s official website.
But critics say the timing, language, and source of the message amount to nothing short of state-sponsored propaganda designed to influence the vote — particularly on Proposition 50, the Democrat-backed ballot initiative that would dismantle California’s independent redistricting commission in favor of a partisan gerrymander.
DeMaio: ‘This Is Propaganda With Taxpayer Money’
California Republican Assemblyman Carl DeMaio didn’t hold back. “It’s a pack of lies — offering propaganda in the middle of an election so that politicos can avoid accountability for their failures,” DeMaio told The Daily Wire. “This is as outrageous as you can get when it comes to taxpayer money being used to promote lies to try to impact the outcome of a pending election.”
Newsom’s Office Shrugs Off Criticism
When asked for comment, Newsom’s office sarcastically responded, “Seriously?” — and proceeded to point fingers back at Trump. They later directed The Daily Wire to a USDA Food and Nutrition Service webpage, which also accused Senate Democrats of blocking funding.
That banner read, “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program… The well has run dry.” It added that Democrats were holding out for spending on “healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures” instead of reopening the government.
Kiley: ‘This Is Misinformation, Period’
Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA) condemned the messages, accusing Newsom of weaponizing state resources for partisan purposes. “Newsom continues to peddle misinformation for partisan gain, now using official channels,” he said in a statement.
“It is exactly this kind of excessive partisanship that has caused this shutdown that is having terrible consequences for millions of Americans. Unfortunately, those consequences are worse in California than anywhere, as our state leads the nation in poverty and unemployment.”
Shutdown Blame Game Intensifies
While Democrats scramble to deflect attention from their refusal to fund the government without health care for illegal immigrants, Republican lawmakers like Kiley emphasize that they voted to prevent the shutdown and keep essential programs running.
Meanwhile, Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) doubled down on the Democrat position in a recent TV ad aired through his official congressional office, saying, “Every American must have affordable healthcare, and that’s why I’m fighting in Washington, D.C., even if it means shutting this government down.”
Bottom Line: Newsom’s Text Campaign Sparks Bipartisan Alarm
With elections just days away, and Newsom’s redistricting power grab hanging in the balance, the governor is now facing bipartisan criticism for crossing ethical lines. By leveraging official state channels to push a narrative aimed squarely at shifting blame onto President Trump, Newsom may have inadvertently proven the critics’ point: California’s leadership is more focused on politics than serving its most vulnerable citizens.