Halle Berry criticizes Gavin Newsom for undermining women's health at live event

At a recent live event, Halle Berry expressed strong criticism of California Governor Gavin Newsom, arguing that his actions undermine women's health and questioning his suitability for the U.S. presidency. Speaking at The New York Times DealBook Summit on Thursday, Dec. 4, the Oscar-winning actress highlighted Newsom's veto of Assembly Bill 432, known as the Menopause Care Equity Act, which he had also blocked the previous year.

"In California, my own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause legislation two years in a row," Berry stated before Newsom's appearance at the summit in New York City.

The 59-year-old actress had previously advocated for the bill, which aimed to simplify access to medical treatments addressing menopause symptoms. On Oct. 13, Newsom, 58, explained that he vetoed the measure because he believed its insurance coverage provisions were "too broad," according to Politico.

Berry did not hold back her disapproval. "It's clear he wont be governor forever, and by neglecting the health needs of women in midlife, he probably shouldnt be our next president either," she said. She encouraged everyone, regardless of gender, to support older women and stay engaged with these issues, stating, "We need to ask questions, stay curious, and have these conversations even when they feel uncomfortable."

Newsom's office responded to Berry's remarks with a statement emphasizing the governor's respect for her advocacy while defending his veto. "He shares Ms. Berrys goal of expanding access to menopause care, but the bill as written could have inadvertently increased healthcare costs for millions of women," the statement read. The office added that they are committed to finding ways to improve access to menopause treatments without raising costs.

Governor Newsom has been in office since January 2019 and previously served as lieutenant governor and mayor of San Francisco. He has not yet decided whether he will run for president in 2028, stating in an October interview that he is giving it serious consideration but will wait until after the 2026 midterm elections to make a decision.

Author: Benjamin Carter