California Governor Gavin Newsom faces mounting criticism after his press office posted what critics call a body-shaming attack against a White House communications director, raising questions about taxpayer-funded social media conduct and political hypocrisy.
Social Media Battle Escalates
The controversy erupted Monday evening when Newsom’s official press office account joined an ongoing dispute between White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and Rachel Cohen, communications director for Senator Mark Warner. The argument began when Cohen questioned why CNN would interview Trump ally Tricia McLaughlin, dismissing her potential contributions to viewers’ understanding. Cheung defended McLaughlin as one of the best communicators around while calling Cohen a loser.
Cohen responded by accusing Cheung of previously mishandling a sensitive national security media situation. Cheung fired back using offensive language, calling Cohen a retard and suggesting nobody would seek her help. Rather than de-escalating, Newsom’s team posted an image of Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars with the caption describing it as a live view of Steven tweeting.
Gavin Newsom sparks fury with truly horrific comment about top Trump aide https://t.co/IVL4PKx03c pic.twitter.com/XQyWQccgdG
— California Post (@californiapost) April 29, 2026
Backlash Mounts Against Governor
The Jabba the Hutt comparison, widely interpreted as mocking Cheung’s physical appearance, immediately drew sharp condemnation from across the political spectrum. Critics accused the governor’s office of body shaming and wasting California tax dollars on personal attacks. Others called the post racist toward the Asian community, noting that Cheung’s family immigrated to America from Hong Kong. Multiple users highlighted perceived hypocrisy, pointing to recent statements from Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the governor’s wife, advocating for civility in political discourse.
Questions About Leadership Standards
The incident raises broader concerns about the appropriate use of official government social media accounts and taxpayer resources. California faces numerous fiscal challenges, and voters increasingly question whether state officials should engage in partisan online disputes using public platforms. The controversy also underscores growing frustration with declining standards of political discourse, where personal attacks overshadow substantive policy debates. As one observer noted, hate sells and appears to be all that politicians can do anymore, suggesting widespread fatigue with constant conflict over constructive governance.
