Donald Trump has asserted that Gavin Newsom has withdrawn from the presidential race after a heated exchange involving the California Governor’s wife.

Trump took to Truth Social on Monday evening, exclaiming, “Wow! Gavin Newscum just exited the Presidential Race!!!”

In response, Newsom’s press team swiftly retorted on X: “WOW. THE PRESIDENT IS SUNDOWNING HARDER THAN USUAL TONIGHT!!!”

This back-and-forth stemmed from an unusual online spat between Trump and Jennifer Siebel Newsom concerning the US women’s Olympic hockey team.

Siebel Newsom taunted the president after female athletes declined a White House invitation, following Trump’s jesting comment to the men’s team that he risked impeachment if he didn’t host both gold medal teams.

She remarked, “Clearly they prefer arenas where women are actually respected! As they should.”

Newsom has not officially launched his presidential run though speculation is rife as he tours the US promoting his new memoir.

Earlier this week he suggested he would not make a bid for the Oval Office if his four children and wife were against it.

Ask what would stand in his way, he told CNN: “There are five of them.” He continued: “It will be done as a family and it’ll be done as a unit. It will be done as a partnership.”

When pressed on whether his family actually wants him to run, Newsom admitted, “It depends on the day.”

He recalled how one of his sons recently texted him a headline suggesting he was gearing up for a presidential campaign and asked if it was true.

“I said, ‘No, I will do this as a family,’” Newsom asserted. His son then replied: “‘You can’t,’” adding, “’I’m too young, You need to spend more time with us.’”

“How do you deal with that one?” Newsom asked CNN’s Dana Bash. “I’m busted.”

The governor has steadily built a national profile, sparring with President Donald Trump on social media and popping up at high-profile international events — fueling speculation about higher ambitions.