Newsom sees Trump DOJ investigation as a political gift

An investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) could have put California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on defense.

Instead, it is giving Newsom, seen as a leading Democratic White House contender in 2028, a new political opening.

Newsom is embracing the DOJ investigation, using the confrontation with President Trump to raise his national profile and cement his role as one of the president’s lead rivals ahead of a probable White House bid.

“By targeting Newsom, Trump just elevates his standing among Democrats, and, ironically, being singled out by the president makes Newsom appear more presidential-level himself,” said Democratic consultant Garry South, who is based in California and advised the governor in a previous campaign.

“And Newsom will play it to the hilt,” South added. “He understands when he’s been given a gift.”

In a video released on Newsom’s social media accounts on Monday, the governor said he’s happy to be part of the president’s so-called enemies list, revealing that he and his wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom are facing several investigations by Trump’s Justice Department.

“You can subpoena my records. You can investigate me. You can harass me,” the governor said. “Put my name on every and any enemy’s list you have but leave my wife and family out of your personal vendetta.”

In the five-minute video, he also appealed to Democrats — openly hinting at a presidential run and positioning himself as the fighter Democrats have desired since Trump won reelection in 2024.

Speaking directly to the president, Newsom said, “This country does not belong to you. It does not belong to your cronies.”

“We are going to fight your lawlessness — and we are going to remind people in this country of your corruption,” he said. “The same corruption our founders warned us against.”

“As we move to celebrate our 250th anniversary, I’m going to keep reminding Americans of what they warned would happen if a man with no character ever held the office of the president,” the governor added.

Politically, the investigation “elevates” Newsom, Democratic strategist Rodell Mollineau said.

“It demonstrates that Trump and Vice President Vance are concerned about his ability to take them on in 2028,” Mollineau said.

On the other hand, he added that it’s “still a DOJ investigation which will take precious time, attention and sources away from Newsom’s campaign.”

Newsom has led in some early 2028 polls of would-be candidates. He also led and won a redistricting fight last year, building a massive email list of supporters around the country.

“He’s become the one to beat,” one Democratic strategist said. “And it’s for one reason only: He’s getting in Trump’s face constantly.”

Elizabeth Ashford, a Democratic consultant based in California who worked for two previous governors in the state, said Newsom’s approach was authentic to who he is.

Ashford pointed to the time during the California wildfires when Newsom waited for Trump on the tarmac to tour the ravaged areas with the president, even though the governor hadn’t been invited. And there was the time when Newsom traveled to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland — knowing Trump was set to attend — to rail against his policies.

“There are these things he occasionally does that buck the convention,” Ashford said, adding that the tarmac moment in particular was “a baller move that had great imagery.”

Ashford said Newsom’s fury is warranted because it seems at first glance that the investigations are a “politically motivated attempt to muddy the waters around Newsom, paint him in a negative light, and that’s because he will be a formidable opponent.”

At the same time, she added, “Was it a politically smart move? Time will tell.”

Political observers on both sides of the aisle credited Newsom with using the investigations to his advantage politically.

“It’s great politics, no doubt about it,” said veteran GOP strategist Susan Del Percio, who does not support Trump. “There’s no doubt that Newsom made a good political move to challenge it upfront because there’s a constituency out there that will believe this is politically motivated. And it may be proven to be good legal strategy.”

But Del Percio cautioned that it could go sideways if the investigation produces legitimate wrongdoing.

“Just because the DOJ is investigating you doesn’t mean there’s nothing there,” she said. “We’ll have to see what’s really there.”

At least two of Newsom’s would-be opponents in the 2028 race defended him in the face of the investigations.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who has known Newsom for years and is considering launching another White House bid, hit Trump during a summit in Austria on Tuesday.

“He told us most of what we knew would happen, including that he would go after his political enemies using the Department of Justice,” Harris said. “I’m not surprised that he may be using the Department of Justice to go after a political enemy in the current governor of California.”

A day earlier, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said the investigations represented “a dangerous escalation” by Trump.

“The president frequently calls for the jailing of his perceived enemies but his playbook of weaponizing the Department of Justice as a personal attack dog is another level of corruption. This must stop.”

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