California Governor Gavin Newsom escalated his war of words with Donald Trump on Thursday, accusing the former president of maneuvering to secure a third term in office through partisan manipulation of the nation’s political map, an argument that he based on receiving a piece of clothing from a Trump supporter. At a press conference, Newsom brandished what he called an ominous sign of Trump’s intentions — a “Trump 2028” hat sent to him by a Trump supporter — and framed it as evidence of the former president’s “authoritarian tendencies.”
“I received in the mail a Trump 2028 hat from one of his biggest supporters,” the panicked California governor said, before labeling Trump “the most corrupt president in history” and accusing him of “crony capitalism” that undermines free enterprise. The comments came as Republican-led states, particularly Texas, advance mid-cycle redistricting plans aimed at netting additional GOP seats in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterms.
NEWSOM: "Trump will be running for a third term. Mark my word. I literally received, in the mail, a 'Trump 2028' hat." 🤣
The ultimate troll. pic.twitter.com/YHc5CKnePJ
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 14, 2025
In a direct counterpunch, Newsom rolled out the “Election Rigging Response Act,” a measure that would temporarily sideline California’s independent redistricting commission and empower the state to redraw congressional lines more favorable to Democrats. He cast the proposal as a defensive measure to Republican gerrymandering, echoing the liberal argument that has come to define their party: When Republicans do something, it’s an attack on democracy, but when Democrats do the same thing, it’s defending democracy.
The “Trump 2028” hat episode has quickly become a political flashpoint. Republicans blasted Newsom’s plan, with National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Christian Martinez accusing him of chasing a “pathetic 2028 presidential pipe dream” instead of respecting the will of California voters. Democrats, meanwhile, hailed the proposal as a necessary bulwark against what they view as a GOP-driven assault on democratic norms.
Constitutional scholars point out that the 22nd Amendment bars any president from serving more than two terms. Yet Newsom, hoping to have the Trump-obsessed Democratic base back him in 2028, suggested Trump might seek to exploit loopholes or mobilize public sentiment to extend his grip on power — a fear reinforced by Trump’s penchant for testing institutional limits and his allies’ casual talk of a third term.
Trump has already said that he sees Vice President JD Vance has the MAGA movement’s successor, saying he’s “probably the favorite at this point.” The president has also said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be a good running mate for Vance.
[Read More: Canada Loses Its Mind Again]
