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.”
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.
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!”
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.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY