California governor praises Joe Biden’s presidency as a 'masterclass' in policy accomplishments

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s scathing attacks on some far-right Republican governors, including Florida’s Ron DeSantis and Texas’ Greg Abbott, have led to speculation that he plans to run for president in 2024 if President Joe Biden doesn’t seek reelection. But during a late August interview with ABC News, the Democratic governor insisted that he has no plans to run for president in 2024, and praised Biden’s policies as a “masterclass” of policy achievements.

When Newsom was asked why he is running anti-DeSantis ads in Florida and attacking other GOP governors as well, he replied that it isn’t because he’s planning to run for president, but because he detests their policies. DeSantis is often mentioned as a likely Republican presidential candidate for 2024.

Newsom, dressed in casual attire during the interview, jokingly told ABC News, “You think this looks like someone running for anything?.... Not gonna happen.”

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But Newsom’s tone became much more serious when he laid out some reasons why he has such a low opinion of DeSantis and other far-right MAGA governors.

The California Democrat, who was once married to Kimberly Giulfoyle (now Donald Trump, Jr.’s fiancée), told ABC News, “I’m a guy with four kids. I’m so pissed off…. I can’t take what’s going on in this country — the last 50 years of progress, the rights revolutions being wiped out in real time by folks with a zest for demonization and othering other people. I can’t take what these governors are doing, state after state: attacking minorities, attacking vulnerable communities…. going after the LBGT community. Saying if you’ve been raped by your father, you don’t have the right to express yourself by deciding what to do for yourself and your own body.”

Newsom went on to slam DeSantis for his attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci, telling ABC News, “DeSantis, the way he talked about Fauci…. They’re bullies…. I don’t like what’s happening. Threatening people if they come to California for reproductive rights in states like Texas. And bounties. It’s a serious moment in American history…. DeSantis is the worst of it, but Abbott and these other guys, they’re right there.”

Newsom had no criticisms of Biden’s presidency during the interview.

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The governor told ABC News, “I don’t know that there’s been a two-year period in modern American history that’s been more effective than the last two years with the Biden Administration…. It’s a masterclass. A masterclass…. At the end of the day, he’ll be judged for the things he did, not the things he said. Joe Biden can sleep better than any modern president with what he’s accomplished in the last two years.”

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