Not Again! As LA Riots Raged, Newsom Attended Luxury Wine Tasting in Napa Valley
“It’s the perfect kick-off to summer fun. The fete will take place on the Winery Crushpad, where we’ll gather for music, food, conversation, and delicious wine!”
As California Gov. Gavin Newsom fumbled and bumbled his way through the Los Angeles anti-ICE riots, his state’s second major crisis this year, he had the terrible judgment to start a tit-for-tat with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
When the Department of Defense Rapid Response Team posted a photo of Hegseth attending the 2025 Congressional Baseball Game on X, Newsom replied with an image of U.S. troops sleeping on a floor along with a message that read, “Pete sent 4,700 troops here (when they weren’t needed) without adequate fuel, food, water or a place to sleep. But don’t worry, he’s at a baseball game.”
DOD Rapid Response fired back with a photograph of the mayhem unfolding in the city with the caption, “Weren’t needed.”
America’s @SecDef 🫱🏻🫲🏻 America’s favorite past time pic.twitter.com/dzQ9f86dwi
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 11, 2025
“Weren't needed” https://t.co/27EfQvFhma pic.twitter.com/MpFuX65eH2
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) June 12, 2025
Given Newsom’s history of hypocrisy—like dining at an upscale Napa Valley restaurant at the height of the pandemic while imposing strict lockdowns on his subjects—it’s hard to ignore the double standard. We still remember the paddle boarder arrested in Malibu for defying the very rules Newsom was flouting.
EXCLUSIVE: We've obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he's in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed. 10pm on @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 18, 2020
That’s why I was amazed to see that the governor who wrecked the state of California was foolish enough to attend a luxury wine tasting in Napa while the Los Angeles riots raged.
The City Journal’s Christopher Rufo reported:
As riots engulfed Los Angeles and mobs vandalized public buildings, incinerated vehicles, and assaulted law enforcement officers, California governor Gavin Newsom was enjoying a swanky wine-tasting party in Napa Valley.
The wine-tasting was held on the afternoon of June 7, 2025, at the Odette Estate Winery, which Newsom co-founded in 2011. Dubbed “Vineyard Vibes,” the event was a fundraiser for the PlumpJack Foundation, founded by Newsom’s sister, and featured “contemporary yet sophisticated” wines, live jazz music, and locally made pizza and smash burgers. “It’s the perfect kick-off to summer fun,” read promotional language. “The fete will take place on the Winery Crushpad, where we’ll gather for music, food, conversation, and delicious wine!”
We have the details exclusively at City Journal, with reporting from @rk_thorpe and our team: https://t.co/qRSz3BvLBs
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 19, 2025
The source who photographed Newsom at the event was amazed by his presence. “I couldn’t believe it,” the source told Rufo. “He was just walking around like this was an everyday occurrence.” He added that Newsom stayed for at least 90 minutes.
Rufo reminded readers that this was only the second day of the riots. Overwhelmed Los Angeles police officers lost control of the crowd and the city was descending into chaos on that night. Vehicles were being torched, “protestors” were hurling rocks and bottles at law enforcement and had surrounded a federal building.
But California’s fearless leader was attending a wine tasting in the northern part of the state. For the second straight day, he had failed to act which led President Trump to authorize the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to California that evening.
Did Newsom really think no one would find out about this? The whole nation was watching the riots unfold.
Newsom may be eyeing the presidency, but his failures during the January wildfires and the L.A. riots reveal a glaring lack of readiness. When the times demanded leadership, he delivered press conferences, posturing, and petty tweets. For all his ambition, he’s proven himself to be a political lightweight.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn or X.
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Comments
Once again, how can Democrats justify support of Newsom, the most fake politician in America? He is a meglamaniac and would be a most dangerous president. Nothing matters more to him than to have power and to perform. Trump may have a huge ego, but he is America First. Newsom is the actual manifestation of what Democrats project about Trump, meaning Newsom is about as terrible as it gets.
Easy. You said it yourself. Power. The Democrats seek power. It is their sole purpose for existing, not just as a party but as people. Newsom is photogenic, supposedly charismatic, and appeals to the box wine Karens who are the party’s strongest supporters. They simply don’t care about anything else.
Gruesome sure like his wine both verbally and literally.
Some industrious MAGA types should join a ANTIFA/BLM/Hamas/Lraza facebook/instagram/twitter group and direct the next protests to where Gruesome is going to be. There is no better way for them to protest and scream truth to power then for them to show up and get in Gruesome’s face,
Hey, at least California Democrats are upping their game slowly. You’ll notice that the wine tasting wasn’t in Ghana this time.
Hold on there. Nothing wrong with Ghana Beaujolais. As long as you drink it really fast. And wash it down with some bourbon. By some I mean a lot.
Democrats and their street actors, NGOs and judges have turned into nothing but a ‘fifth column’. Since Newsom has high rank then he can do as he wishes.
Meanwhile, Trump touts his own wines:
On behalf of my family and our incredible team, welcome to Trump Winery, the largest winery on the East Coast and one of the most spectacular properties anywhere in the world. Throughout my career in real estate, I have had the opportunity to work on many iconic projects, the tallest skyscrapers in the world such as Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, world-class resorts including Trump National Doral in Miami, and legendary properties like Trump Turnberry and so many more.
Throughout this journey, I can honestly say that Trump Winery, from the moment of acquisition has been one of the most exciting. Stepping into the world of winemaking has been unbelievably rewarding and with the passion and drive of our amazing team led by Kerry Woolard, our General Manager and master winemaker, Jonathan Wheeler we are changing the way that the world views Virginia wines. Each year our wines continue to receive tremendous accolades competing and winning against vineyards that have been in business for decades. Being in the hospitality business, it is ingrained in us to ensure that every experience with our brand is one that you will never forget. Whether you are driving through the beautiful country roads of Virginia arriving at our Tasting Room or sipping one of our award-winning wines in the comfort of your home with your family – we pride ourselves on giving you the very best.
Dishonest and lying as usual, Lonejustice, not to mention completely off-topic.
You really are an awful person.
The snippet above, that you posted without attribution, adding your own verbiage and completely lacking in context, was actually written and published by Eric Trump, who is the President of Trump WInery of Charlottesville VA. I would imagine Donald Trump had nothing at all to do with the message.
Maybe you’ll actually post something some day of value. I highly doubt it.
Since you seem unable to do it, I’ll post a link to where you cribbed the quote. Which you didn’t even get completely right.
https://www.trumpwinery.com/winery/our-story/#president
Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump / 🎶
Trump, Trump, Trump, Trump /
Glorious Truuuuuummp…. Wonderful Truuuump…
Well, to be fair, I’d rather be at a luxury Napa Valley wine tasting than an LA riot.
It was a ‘fete’. Oh boy!
Great. Along with everything else, now we find out Newsom is a fete fetishist.
“ Newsom may be eyeing the presidency, but his failures during the January wildfires and the L.A. riots reveal a glaring lack of readiness…”
I might point out that this kind of behavior is a resume enhancer in the Democrat Party. We should also be cognizant of the fact that if the party wants him to be president, unless there’s marked improvement in election security, he will be the president, voters be damned.
Well…. I think you all are missing the very point that Gov. Newsom was trying to make with his attendance:
There was no need for his presence at the capitol or in L.A. because there was nothing unusual happening.
Just another typical day in L.A. where burning cars, rioting, and attacking the police are normal.
Just tell him Xi is visiting, and watch him perspire and swing into action.
Newsome is as worthless as tits on a boar hog.
No he’s more worthless.
ICE should do check for migrant workers picking grapes in wine country.
Make no mistake, he was not being nonchalant….his fingers were crossed for someone not in law enforcement to go room temp at the riots because he had his talking points tucked securely in his suit coat pocket.