Victor Davis Hanson Delivers Scathing Takedown: Why Gavin Newsom’s Political Ambitions Are Crumbling

California Governor Gavin Newsom has long been touted as the golden boy of the Democratic Party, a slick-haired, camera-ready leader with presidential aspirations. But in a blistering critique, historian and political commentator Victor Davis Hanson has finally exposed the harsh reality behind Newsom’s carefully polished image—and why his ambitions may be doomed.

Hanson pulls no punches, calling Newsom “a total failure” who has presided over the decline of what was once the most beautiful and successful state in America. According to Hanson, Newsom isn’t just mismanaging California; he’s actively destroying it, living off the legacy of industrious leaders like Pat Brown, Ronald Reagan, and Pete Wilson, while undermining everything they built.

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Newsom’s signature move? Optics over substance. Hanson mocks the governor’s penchant for media-friendly photo ops—whether it’s donning trendy workwear by the Port of LA or scooping up ashes at wildfire sites. But behind the staged compassion lies a record of skyrocketing homelessness, spiraling crime, and decaying infrastructure. California’s streets, once world-class, now resemble war zones. Residents are fleeing crushing taxes, outrageous housing costs, and a suffocating regulatory state.

And when confronted, Newsom dances around tough questions with endless word salads and progressive buzzwords, dodging accountability at every turn. His latest “Care Court” initiative, pitched as a solution to the homeless crisis, is dismissed by Hanson as another PR stunt designed to grease his political fortunes rather than deliver real results.

Hanson’s takedown is especially brutal when it comes to Newsom’s economic legacy. The governor’s regulatory crusade has driven out the oil industry, sent gas prices soaring, and strangled Hollywood with taxes and red tape. Filmmakers now find it cheaper to shoot in Europe than in California, a state that once symbolized cinematic magic.

But perhaps the most damning indictment is Newsom’s handling of the high-speed rail project—a $13 billion boondoggle with no completed stations, no operational route, and ballooning costs. Hanson calls it “fiscal insanity,” questioning how Newsom could possibly run a country when he can’t even manage a train line.

The criticism doesn’t stop at policy. Hanson exposes Newsom’s privileged upbringing and deep ties to the Getty family, painting him as the ultimate “Nepo baby” whose silver-platter ascent has left a trail of incompetence. Despite homelessness, crime, wildfires, and mass exodus of residents, Newsom continues to smile for the cameras, launching a podcast in a transparent bid to polish his image ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.

Hanson’s message to the Democratic Party is clear: If you want to win in 2028, look elsewhere. Newsom’s record is a political liability—a walking red flag propped up by privilege and media spin. Electing him would be a gift to Republican strategists and a disaster for the nation.

As the dust settles, Newsom’s legacy is on the line. Will Democrats heed Hanson’s warning, or will they gamble on a candidate whose record is riddled with failure? One thing is certain: Victor Davis Hanson has set the stage for a fierce debate about the future of California—and the country.

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