Ways Newsom is just like Trump
* Highly media-focused. Both cultivate large public profiles and are comfortable dominating news cycles through interviews, social media, and public appearances.
* Strong personal branding. Both have built political identities that are closely tied to themselves rather than simply their parties.
* Frequent attacks on political opponents. Each often frames political disagreements in stark terms and uses pointed rhetoric to energize supporters.
* Executive-driven leadership. Both have relied heavily on executive authority to pursue policy goals when they believed legislatures were too slow or divided.
* Polarizing figures. Each inspires strong loyalty among supporters while also attracting intense opposition from critics.
* Willingness to challenge party norms. Trump regularly broke with traditional Republican positions, while Newsom has at times pushed Democrats toward more aggressive positions on issues such as climate policy, gun regulations, and health care.
* Confidence in public debate. Both are known for being combative and comfortable engaging critics publicly.
* Close ties to wealthy donors and business leaders. Despite populist messaging (Trump) or progressive messaging (Newsom), both have longstanding relationships with affluent supporters and influential donors.
* Use of lawsuits and legal strategies. Both have used litigation as a tool in political disputesTrump frequently during and after his presidency, and Newsom through California's legal challenges to federal policies and other states.