Gavin Newsom Recalls Donald Trump Inquiring About 'Newscum' Nickname

California Governor Gavin Newsom recalled a phone call with former President Donald Trump in which Trump asked about the nickname Newscum and discussed MAGA hat sales just hours before ordering National Guard deployment to Los Angeles.

California Governor Gavin Newsom recounted a phone conversation he had with former President Donald Trump in June of the previous year, emphasizing a moment in which Trump mentioned a juvenile nickname. According to Newsom, this exchange occurred the evening before Trump ordered the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles.

Details of the Phone Call

During the conversation, Trump inquired about Newsom's opinion on the nickname "Newscum," a label Trump had previously used for the governor. On the March 3 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Newsom described the interaction:

"It was about 10:30 my time, 1:30 his time," Newsom recalled. "And he goes: 'Hey, Gav, Gav, what do you think of Newscum?' It's his nickname for me. I said, 'What are you talking about?' He goes, 'It's pretty original, right?' I replied, 'Actually, it's not. There was an eighth-grade bully that did that when I was a kid.'"

Following the nickname discussion, the conversation shifted to Trump's political movement. Newsom remembered that Trump asked about MAGA hat sales, claiming that 211 hats had been sold during the prior week. Newsom reflected on the unusual nature of the discussion: "These are the conversations with Trump. You can't make this stuff up." He added that approximately 12 hours later, Trump issued another directive, advancing the federal deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles.

Additional Interaction After Inaugural Address

Newsom also recounted a separate call with Trump following his inaugural address. During the ceremony, Newsom's youngest son inadvertently wandered onto the stage and fell asleep. The former president called the following day and referenced the incident:

"Trump calls me the next day and said, 'I saw that.' I said, 'Thank you, Mr. President,'" Newsom explained. "I thought it was going to be a positive conversation. And he talks about my wife, said something interesting about her."

Newsom detailed Trump's remarks further: "'Melania's upset,' Donald Trump said, as per Newsom. 'You said some pretty harsh things about me.' When I tried to explain my address, the President replied, 'Oh, I get it, oh, we're all good.' It looked like he was hurt, he was so sad," Newsom added.

Summary of Interactions

• Trump brought up the nickname "Newscum" during a late-night call with Newsom.
• The discussion quickly shifted to MAGA hat sales and the broader MAGA political movement.
• Approximately 12 hours later, Trump authorized the federal deployment of National Guard forces to Los Angeles.
• After Newsom's inaugural address, Trump called again, mentioning both Newsom's youngest son and his wife.
• Trump's comments indicated he felt personally affected by Newsom's statements during the address.

Context and Reactions

Newsom's recounting of these exchanges provides insight into his interactions with Trump, highlighting personal and unconventional elements of their communication. The governor emphasized the nickname incident, inquiries about MAGA merchandise, and remarks concerning his family. These accounts offer a detailed perspective on the former president's style of engagement during phone conversations with state officials.

Sources:

• Gavin Newsom Says Donald Trump Asked Him About ‘Newscum’ Nickname (Reality Tea)
• Gavin Newsom Says Donald Trump Asked Him About ‘Newscum’ Nickname (AOL)
• Gavin Newsom reveals what Trump says to him in private conversations: ‘What do you think of Newscum?’ (Yahoo News)
• Gavin Newsom Recalls Donald Trump Asking Him About ‘Newscum’ Nickname