Newsom takes his backup presidential campaign to Israel
Zachary Faria
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Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) is visiting Israel en route to China even though no one really asked him to. So what is the point, exactly?
According to a Newsom spokeswoman, “The Governor adjusted his planned international trip and will briefly visit Israel ahead of going to China. While in Israel, the Governor will meet with those impacted by the violence.” Newsom himself said after Hamas terrorists slaughtered over 1,400 civilians in Israel, “I stand with Israel and its people in denouncing this horrific act of terrorism.”
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That sentiment is appreciated, but what the point of a Newsom visit to Israel is isn’t immediately clear. Newsom said he would be “offering California’s support,” which, again, is great, but it is also something he could do from California. (Newsom’s office said California will also be supplying aid to Gaza, which will almost immediately be confiscated by Hamas, for whatever that is worth.) And this trip was a detour on his planned trip to China to talk about climate change, itself a bizarre trip for some random governor.
No one asked Newsom to go to Israel, nor did anyone ask him to go to China thinking he could magically make the Chinese Communist Party care about the climate. That leaves two potential explanations. The first is that Newsom and his inflated ego think he should be front and center in every issue not just in the U.S. but globally. The second is that his trip to Israel and his trip to China are a cynical presidential election play for Newsom as he undoubtedly prepares to run in 2028 (or even 2024, with President Joe Biden’s age and cratering poll numbers).
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Despite Newsom’s insistence that he is not running for president (yet), all his decisions must be viewed through that lens. His ambitions couldn’t be any more clear, evidenced by both his front-and-center role campaigning for Biden and his departures from the wilder progressive ideas being pushed by the California legislature. Newsom’s China trip already reeked of presidential positioning for Newsom. Adding a stop in Israel on his way there all but confirms it.
Newsom at the very least wants to be front and center for 2028, especially if Biden loses in 2024. And, if Biden has to drop out because he is wildly unpopular and increasingly old, Newsom would be right in the position he wants to be in for 2024. He’s running for president either next year or in the next cycle. There is no point in anyone pretending otherwise.