Overview
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom made the remarks in a sit-down with Jen Psaki on MS NOW’s The Briefing that aired Wednesday.
- He said Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were once among President Donald Trump’s most effective critics before joining his orbit, calling them “frauds” and “phonies.”
- Newsom described Vance as “a little more dangerous” and said the vice president “scares me almost more than Trump.”
- He pointed to what he called a “nihilism” among some of Vance’s biggest funders, referencing tech industry allies including Silicon Valley figures.
- Newsom warned Trump could try to control the 2028 succession and even appear on the ballot if Democrats do not retake the House, while noting neither Vance nor Rubio has announced a campaign.