The Democrats’ strategy of painting President Donald Trump as a fascist whose victory would pose a threat to “our democracy” pushed two deranged men to take matters into their own hands last summer. Likewise, a similar campaign against Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk spurred an unhinged young man to assassinate him during a speaking event at Utah Valley University earlier this month. A towering figure in the conservative movement, his murder sent shockwaves through the Right and ignited outrage across the country.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to connect the dots between the Left’s dangerous rhetoric and the spate of violence that has rocked the U.S. in recent months. It is undeniable that apocalyptic language from political leaders can push unstable individuals toward violence.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has already kicked off his campaign for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, has decided the best way to capture voters’ attention is by emulating Trump’s bombastic social media playbook.
His latest target is Stephen Miller — the White House deputy chief of staff for policy and U.S. homeland security adviser. Brilliant, fiery, and exceptionally articulate, Miller is among Trump’s most effective messengers. Therefore, he must be stopped.
On Friday, Newsom’s press office tweeted, “STEPHEN MILLER IS A FASCIST!”
This followed an earlier post in which he called Miller “Submissive Stephen,” adding (“SS”) in case readers somehow missed the analogy. Newsom blasted the Trump administration for “terrorizing Americans” and touted California’s new law requiring ICE agents to unmask.
It read:
MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT “SUBMISSIVE STEPHEN” (“SS”) MILLER IS THROWING THE BIGGEST, MOST PATHETIC “TANTRUM” IN THE ENTIRE WEST WING. CRYING, STOMPING, WAILING, “OUR QUOTAS! OUR ARRESTS OF CHILDREN! HOW WILL WE SURVIVE WITHOUT RAIDING THE INNOCENT?!” HIS TANTRUM WAS SO LOUD IT TRIGGERED A SMALL EARTHQUAKE IN SAN FRANCISCO (SCIENTISTS ARE CALLING IT THE “MILLER QUAKE”). HE IS FURIOUS THAT I, GAVIN C. NEWSOM (THE REAL LEADER OF AMERICA), JUST SIGNED BEAUTIFUL NEW LAWS TO HOLD TRUMP’S SECRET POLICE ACCOUNTABLE: NO MASKS, NO RAIDS IN OUR SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS. KIDS, TEACHERS, NURSES ARE SAFE AGAIN BECAUSE OF ME! “SS” MILLER IS NOW GROUNDED. NO JUICE BOX. NO CARTOONS. WHEN YOU’RE READY TO STOP TERRORIZING AMERICANS, STEPHEN, YOUR DADDY (ME!) MIGHT UNGROUND YOU. UNTIL THEN, IT’S “TIME OUT.” YOU ARE WELCOME, AMERICA! — GCN
The first post garnered 27.6 million views on X, and the latter, 2.6 million. Given the account’s massive reach, the odds that these messages will be construed as a call to action are high. And, as the account continues to churn out posts, the risk that an unstable individual will act only grows.
Replies to Newsom’s posts show that the messages are resonating. One X user adds a few more targets to the list, including FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Elon Musk, and Trump.
Another reinforces Newsom’s narrative with a grotesque meme that depicts Miller as a Nazi official.
Well aware that propaganda can shape political behavior, Newsom is playing with fire in using this rhetoric. It’s not hyperbole to suggest he is promoting violence against his political opponents, as the user below points out.
Another user notes that “Democrats have reached the ‘murder your political opponents stage’ of democracy.”
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) said Newsom’s post “reaches the threshold of domestic terrorism. This is no longer ‘inflammatory’, it is criminal.”
Coming on the heels of two attempts to silence Trump, the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the anti-ICE riots, the murders of two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., the attacks on Tesla dealerships, Tesla drivers, and the vehicles themselves, and the political assassination of Charlie Kirk, Newsom’s reckless remarks tell me he’s aware his party is losing the political debate and that he’s upping the ante to violence.
Should some lunatic take a shot at Miller, the governor will have blood on his hands.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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