Newsom's Final State of the State: Defends California, Criticizes Trump
California Gov. Gavin Newsom used his final State of the State to criticize President Trump, highlight state policy achievements, and outline budget and housing priorities.
Overview
Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his final State of the State address Thursday in Sacramento, speaking for more than an hour to lawmakers, highlighting his record and future ambitions.
He sharply criticized President Donald Trump, accusing the administration of federal overreach, neglecting wildfire relief, and governing through fear, calling democracy 'at stake'.
Newsom touted California's economic growth, climate progress, prescription drug price reductions, and reported declines in unsheltered homelessness and homicide rates in Oakland and San Francisco.
Republicans and critics said Newsom glossed over persistent homelessness, high energy and housing costs, and a projected multibillion-dollar budget deficit as challenges for his legacy.
He called for tougher measures against corporate investors buying homes, urged rebuilding after last year's fires, and will release his proposed state budget the following day.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Newsom's speech as a partisan rebuke by foregrounding loaded language, dramatized imagery and campaign cues. Editorial choices—headline "Total Failure," repeated emphasis on Trump's alleged inaction, prioritizing Newsom's alarmist list of abuses and 2028/fundraising context—shape a crisis-oriented narrative, while quoted lines remain source content.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Newsom highlighted California’s economic strength as the world’s fourth-largest economy, progress on climate policy, efforts to reduce prescription drug prices, expanded education funding, and state programs that he said helped reduce unsheltered homelessness and violent crime in cities like Oakland and San Francisco.[1]
Newsom framed California as a counterweight to what he called a chaotic federal government under President Trump, accusing the administration of executive overreach, attempts to cut off food assistance and research funding, neglect of wildfire relief, and governing through fear, which he said put American democracy “at stake.”[2]
Republicans and other critics argued that Newsom painted an overly rosy picture and did not adequately address persistent homelessness, high housing and energy costs, and a projected multibillion‑dollar state budget deficit, all of which they say undermine his claims of success.[1]
California is facing an estimated budget shortfall of around $18 billion, and Newsom said he would release a detailed budget plan the following day outlining how he intends to close the deficit while continuing investments in priorities such as housing, education, and climate initiatives.
Newsom called for tougher measures against large corporate investors buying up single‑family homes, urged faster rebuilding in communities hit by wildfires, and pressed local governments to move people from encampments into housing and treatment, citing state efforts that removed thousands of encampments and connected tens of thousands of people with services since 2021.[1]
History
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