California Governor Gavin Newsom is doing everything he can to act presidential these days, even if it means following President Donald Trump's example. That includes the Democrat calling on a major network to cancel its popular late-night TV show.
Earlier this week, Newsom’s press office posted a mock-Trump style tweet blasting Greg Gutfeld, host of Gutfeld! on Fox News. The California governor claimed Gutfeld uses a laugh track and urged Fox to dump the late-night host as soon as possible.
I SELDOM WATCH LOW-RATED "GARBAGEMAN" GREG GUTFELD BUT, WHEN I DO, I MARVEL AT THE FAKE LAUGHTER ON THE SHOW. IT SOUNDS LIKE A BAD “LAUGH MACHINE,” IT’S SO OBNOXIOUS AND DISGUSTING, JUST LIKE HIM, ALWAYS LAUGHING NO MATTER WHAT IS SAID. REAL PATRIOTS HATE IT WHEN FOX (“EDITS THE…
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 20, 2025
The parody hit social media just as Newsom has leaned harder into his online role as a Trump imitator by copying the president’s trademark caps-lock rants and over-the-top insults. It’s a move that has annoyed Republicans but kept Newsom’s name in the headlines. The Democrat's supporters have applauded his efforts to take Trump head-on, while some on the other side don't see the joke. Of course, it's unlikely Newsom would use his political power to try to influence what's on television.
Whether the same is true about Donald Trump is debatable. Many critics of Paramount's decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert claim it was done to appease Trump and facilitate Paramount's sale to Skydance.
President Trump hasn't helped clear his name by constantly attacking late-night TV hosts and celebrating the demise of Stephen Colbert's tenure on CBS. Trump has repeatedly claimed Jimmy Kimmel could be “next” and has labeled Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon a “moron” who ruined once-great television.
Newsom doesn’t actually have the power to cancel Gutfeld!; his tweet was satire meant to highlight the absurdity of Trump’s ongoing crusade against late-night comedians. By flipping the script, Newsom is mocking Trump’s tendency to demand the shows he doesn’t like be taken off the air. Still, it keeps the connection between politics and late-night TV alive. Kimmel, Fallon, Colbert, and even Gutfeld remain at the center of a political stand-off.
And of course, Fox News has no reason to consider canceling Gutfeld!. The network isn't facing any outside pressure like Paramount did in the case of The Late Show. But similar to Colbert's show, Gufeld's program pulls in massive ratings. Fox News has a hit with Gutfeld!, and even Newsom calling for it to be taken off the air does nothing but bring more attention to its late-night TV offering.