With his own White House hopes at stake, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) claimed the president placed him and his wife on a “hit list” while leaving out some critical details.
Since around midday Monday, Newsom has accrued quite the view count on a nearly five-minute video pointing fingers at President Donald Trump, deeming himself and his family victims of weaponized government. Glossed over by the governor, who cried “personal vendetta,” was the fact that at least one of the investigations was opened by the Biden administration.
Earning more than seven million views in little more than 12 hours, Newsom captioned his carefully prepared remarks, “Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They have not found a crime — they are simply trying to find one.”
“He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President,” asserted the term-limited governor. “He hates that I consistently call him out. He is simply the most corrupt President in American history. We have nothing to hide. Mr. President, come after me. I am not going anywhere. The country is watching.”
Today, my wife & I joined Donald Trump’s hit list. He has directed his Department of Justice to investigate us. They have not found a crime – they are simply trying to find one.
He isn’t coming after me because of mean tweets, but because I am considering running for President.… pic.twitter.com/tVYk3WUvO8
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 15, 2026
Within the video, Newsom referenced investigations of former FBI Director James Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, California Sen. Adam Schiff (D), and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as he declared, “Today, I proudly join that list.”
He also asserted, “If he can’t intimidate me, he’ll go after the mother of our children. Donald Trump picked the wrong target. We have nothing to hide,” as he dubbed the investigations a “personal vendetta.”
The investigation regarding the taxes of the governor’s wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and her nonprofits was reportedly opened in 2025. Even the Associated Press made clear, “That probe began last year, and political leadership in Washington was not involved in the decision to open it,” based on statements from an anonymous source.
On that front, the governor’s legal affairs secretary sent a Freedom of Information Act request limited to Justice Department references since the second inauguration of Trump.
NEW: @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom has submitted a FOIA request to the U.S. Department of Justice for all records related to President Donald Trump’s politically motivated investigation into the Governor and First Partner @JenSiebelNewsom. pic.twitter.com/cEgYJvVJ2P
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) June 16, 2026
Meanwhile, as Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan indicated, “A separate DOJ investigation, which began under the Biden DOJ, involved Newsom’s chief of staff. That investigation, which is still open and evolving, involves multiple Newsom staff, I’m told.”
NEW: @realDailyWire has learned that there are multiple DOJ investigations going on related to Gavin Newsom, though none of them are directly into Newsom himself. One investigation, which began in 2025, is related to his wife and her taxes, a source familiar shared. A separate…
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) June 15, 2026
In May, Dana Williamson, who served as Newsom’s chief of staff from 2023 to 2024, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, subscribing to a false tax return, and making false statements to a federal agent. She now faces the potential of a combined nearly 40 years in prison and over $2 million in fines and restitution.
Journalist Adam Housley noted, “As I have reported several times and now acknowledged by the Governor of California…Gavin and his wife are under federal investigation… what he failed to tell you… This began during the Biden Admin. Kind of a big detail.”
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet was among those highlighting the humor of the situation as he reacted, “Wait wait wait … the DOJ investigation into Gavin Newsom and his wife began during the Biden administration!???”
Wait wait wait … the DOJ investigation into Gavin Newsom and his wife began during the Biden administration!??
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) June 15, 2026
Sure, bro. pic.twitter.com/5cfXxBB5e5
— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) June 15, 2026
These investigations began under BIDEN. Your statements are emptier than your fire hydrants during a wildfire.
— Jimmy Failla (@jimmyfailla) June 15, 2026
