The moment recalled former President Joe Biden’s widely discussed September 2022 “Red Speech,” when he warned a Philadelphia audience that “equality and democracy are under assault” and argued that “Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.”
That address was remembered not only for its language, but also for its stark visual presentation: a stage washed in deep red lighting that many critics said carried an ominous, authoritarian feel.
At the time, I described it as a seething and combative speech, one that seemed less aimed at healing political divisions than at sharpening them — particularly for the more than 73 million Americans who had backed Biden’s opponent in the previous election.
REMEMBER: Biden Delivers One of the Most Divisive, Hate-Filled Speeches in the History of Our Presidency
How Bad Was Biden’s Oppressive Stage Presence? CNN Altered the Video Feed to Soften the Dire Visuals
California Gov. Gavin Newsom chose an especially symbolic occasion to offer his own bleak assessment of the country: America’s 250th birthday. In an eight-minute Fourth of July speech delivered Saturday, Newsom did not dwell on California’s struggles under his leadership, including the state’s ongoing population losses and the consequences critics attribute to its progressive policies.
Instead, the focus was squarely on Trump. Newsom’s remarks centered on the president and his objections to him, even as critics argue that California’s long-running problems have developed under years of one-party Democratic control:
On America’s 250th birthday, we need a declaration of election independence.
Californians will use every power, every lawyer, every law, and every ounce of will to defend our democracy against any illegal order this president dares to issue.
This is a government of the people. pic.twitter.com/E79CtUvIxW
— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) July 4, 2026
Instead of taking a day off from his endless grievance and hate politics, he thought this would be a good way to celebrate a historical milestone for our country and our people:
“The American people will go to the polls, and President Trump knows what’s coming,” Newsom said in his speech.
“And, because he knows that, he is afraid for himself. He doesn’t care about you, he doesn’t care about America, and he hardly cares about his own political party.”
Newsom shot multiple attacks at Trump for corruption, while the governor himself and his wife face probes from the federal Department of Justice.
“He has added more than $4 billion to his personal fortune while sitting in what is supposed to be a public trust. He told you he was going to drain the swamp, but he gave it a presidential suite,” Newsom said on Trump.
“He is degrading the concept of American self-government in a way that no king and no foreign power has ever managed to do,” the governor added.
There are just a couple of problems with his diatribe: Trump has been cleaning up D.C. and is making it safe again, stopping the tsunami of Biden-era illegal immigration, and showing that we actually can have nice things if we simply do things right. That’s directly in the face of the Democrat narrative that Newsom ascribes to, which is that decline is natural and good, and we should just let it happen.
The other problem that Gov. Hair Product has? His own house doesn’t appear to be so clean:
🚨🚨🚨
The FBI had an informant wearing a wire in June of 2024?!
Joe Biden started an investigation into @GavinNewsom?!
Lots of Democrats need to issue apologies. https://t.co/pjKPi3OK5N
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) July 3, 2026
Gavin Newsom when he found out his inside ally was wearing a wire. 🤣
The dude is toast. pic.twitter.com/SpsjAwSe3d
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 3, 2026
RedState Managing Editor Jennifer Van Laar reports:
