And a visit to Master Grok gets the real situation:
It’s classic political theater from Newsom—framing routine or warranted scrutiny as a “hit list” to rally his base and tee up a 2028 presidential run. @i
The post and context
Newsom’s exact post today is real. He’s claiming Trump personally directed the DOJ to investigate him and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom without evidence of crime, purely for political revenge and because Newsom “calls him out.” He calls Trump the “most corrupt President in American history” and dares him to “come after me.”
@gavinnewsom
This comes amid years of tension: California suing the Trump admin (and vice versa) over National Guard deployments, immigration, elections, and more. Trump has publicly pushed fraud probes into California’s spending, voting systems, and programs.
abc7news.com
The substance behind the claims
• DOJ inquiries exist: Newsom’s office confirms federal agents recently contacted family, friends, and former employees for records/interviews. One focus is Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s The Representation Project (nonprofit she founded). IRS filings show it paid her ~$1.8M in salary and ~$2.1M to her production company (Girls Club LLC) over years for films, licensing, etc.—often 20-30% of the org’s revenue for a relatively small outfit. Donors have included companies with state contracts or lobbying ties to the Newsom administration.
californiaglobe.com
• Pre-existing controversies: This isn’t new. Reports (Sacramento Bee, Daily Mail, NY Post, etc.) have highlighted potential conflicts for years—donors who lobby or get state business, “behested payments,” and high compensation relative to impact. Critics call it self-dealing or pay-to-play optics. California has also faced massive fraud issues (e.g., unemployment benefits during COVID).
sacbee.com
• Trump/DOJ angle: The administration is broadly targeting perceived waste/fraud in blue states like California (election probes, Medicaid, etc.). No public evidence Trump personally ordered a “get Newsom” fishing expedition, but DOJ under any administration investigates high-profile figures, especially with conflicts or public complaints. Declining to comment from DOJ/FBI is standard. Newsom’s “they haven’t found a crime, just trying to” is the predictable spin—investigations start when there are red flags, not after guilt is proven.
politico.com
Newsom’s framing flips accountability into victimhood: “They’re weaponizing DOJ against me for opposing Trump and eyeing the presidency.” This echoes how politicians on both sides cry persecution when scrutinized (see past Trump probes, or Democratic ones). California has sued the feds dozens of times under Newsom; turnabout isn’t automatically “corruption.”
On “most corrupt President”
This is subjective rhetoric. Every modern president has scandals, conflicts, or policy critics label corrupt (Obama’s IRS targeting, Biden family dealings, Trump’s businesses/emoluments, etc.). Newsom’s California has its own track record: high homelessness despite spending, EDD fraud billions, crime/retail theft waves, business exodus, and these nonprofit optics. Pot-kettle.
Newsom’s not “going anywhere” because he’s term-limited as governor and positioning nationally—standard for ambitious pols. The “country is watching” line is pure messaging. Legitimate oversight of potential self-enrichment via a nonprofit tied to the governor’s office isn’t a “hit list”; it’s part of governing. If no wrongdoing, it should clear them. If issues exist, accountability applies regardless of party. The heavy perfume of deflection is there.