On July 9, Governor Gavin Newsom got testy with a reporter during a press conference in Davis, California. The reporter had asked about his tax returns, which haven’t been released since the ones covering 2020, and related federal investigations. In the video posted on X, Newsom quickly turned the questions toward President Trump and the Department of Justice. The clip is getting plenty of attention and comments online.
The video shows Governor Gavin Newsom standing at a podium during a press event. In the clip, he responds to a question about his tax returns by saying, “I already have.” He continues, “Well, I am, because that’s why I’ve released all my taxes for decades, and you will have all those new tax returns because I have no reason why you haven’t gotten them already. So I have no problem.” The footage appears to show him gesturing as he states, “I know you love taxes. Donald Trump, when has he released them?” and references being told “to find something” while discussing vigilance toward the administration.
Key details from the post indicate the question also concerned federal investigations. The video does not show the reporter’s full question, the complete back-and-forth, or events before and after the segment captured. According to the linked article in the post, the press conference took place in Davis, California, and focused on education funding. It is not clear from the footage alone whether Newsom offered a specific timeline for any additional tax return releases.
X Users React to Newsom’s Tax Returns Exchange
Some commenters focused on Newsom’s references to President Trump during the exchange. One wrote, “If you’re a Democrat, when accused of anything, just say the magic words: It’s Trump’s fault.” Another asked, “Why does he keep bringing up Trump when the investigation started under Biden?”
Others commented on his demeanor in the clip. A user stated, “He’s sweating bullets. Guilty as [expletive] and he knows he’s done.” Another described him as “such a nasty little spoiled child when he is asked a question he doesn’t want to answer and always has been.”
Some viewers pointed to past statements for context. One comment referenced an earlier video of Newsom and noted, “This aged well. ‘Rules for thee but not for me.’”
One user sought clarification on the tax returns history by asking Grok directly. The commenter wrote, “@grok Gavin Newsom hasn’t released his tax returns since 2022, correct? He campaigned on releasing them but actually never did.” Grok confirmed that “Newsom last publicly released his tax returns in March 2022, covering tax years through 2020. Grok noted that he had pledged during his campaigns to release them annually while in office as a matter of transparency and “moral duty,” but no further returns have been made public since.”
The clip has added to ongoing online discussions about transparency and accountability for public officials. Commenters continue to weigh Newsom’s responses against his earlier pledges on tax returns and the status of the federal investigations.
