SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is stepping up his social media presence with bold memes, AI-generated images and satirical posts, most of which are aimed directly at President Donald Trump.

Newsom said the approach is a way to hold up a mirror to Trump’s own style of communication, but critics argue it’s political theater.

“We’re following his example. If you’ve got issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns with what he’s putting out as president,” Newsom said at a recent news conference.

For years, Trump has referred to Newsom by the nickname "Newscum," often calling him an "incompetent governor."

Democratic strategist Kevin Liao said the turning point in Newsom’s tone came in June, when the president sent the National Guard to Los Ange

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