U.S. News
Conway Unpacks Trump’s Edge Over Newsom
Clear Facts
- Kellyanne Conway argued President Trump engages voters in a way Governor Gavin Newsom does not.
- Newsom interviewed Ben Shapiro on his podcast, drawing criticism for perceived inconsistency and strategy from Conway.
- California has retained the highest homeless rates in the country under Newsom despite his claims of marginal progress.
Kellyanne Conway stated that President Donald Trump succeeds with voters through consistent messaging and clear priorities, unlike Governor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom recently hosted Ben Shapiro on his podcast, a move that raised questions about Newsom’s strategy and political consistency.
“I guess Gavin Newsom wasn’t invited on Ben Shapiro’s podcast, so he figured I’ll invite him on mine, and I’ll let him school and rule me, which is what happened. Jesse, this would be a brilliant strategy to get to the White House, except we have cameras and recording devices,” Conway told host Jesse Watters.
She pointed out, “So we know right away if you’ve changed your mind and your fundamental position from last decade, last year, last month, last week, in this case. And it’s not a smart strategy because the road to the White House doesn’t run through people speaking their mind, not changing their mind.”
Conway contrasted this by saying Trump established trust by repeating his core goals clearly and consistently.
“I think Donald Trump showed us how to do that. You have to be authentic. Authenticity is also consistency. It means that you’re principled and you keep saying the thing over, same thing over and over again so that repetition becomes reiteration, becomes what voters associate back to you,” Conway added.
She continued, “And they say, ‘Oh, you’re the guy who wants to build the wall, cut my taxes, peace through strength. You’re the guy who’s going to take on Russia and China and Iran.’”
Newsom hinted in October 2025 at possibly running for president in 2028 but has kept his intentions unclear even amid growing national activity.
Conway observed Newsom may appeal in a Democratic primary but cited California’s ongoing problems as obstacles in a national election.
“That’s not apt to change because of the forum in which you are. So look, there’s a world in which I can see Gavin Newsom winning the Democratic primary. Sure. There’s probably enough of a vote out there for the swagger and the good looks and just the bigness of being the governor of California,” Conway said.
She continued, “But how do you win the general election when you have 12% of the nation’s population, but 28% to 29% of it’s homeless? You have the highest unemployment rate in the country. Your chief of water had no water when the fires hit a year ago.”
Newsom claims a slight decline in California homelessness but critics note totals remain the nation’s highest.
When Newsom took office in 2019, he promised sweeping reforms on homelessness, calling it a moral and economic failure. His administration later reported a 9% drop in unsheltered Californians based on federal data.
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