California Governor Gavin Newsom has doubled down on his new nickname for Vice President JD Vance—”Just Dance Vance.”
Newsom’s team posted a meme of Vance’s face on the body of Australian break-dancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, who went viral when she scored zero points in the 2024 Olympic breakdancing competition.
It comes after the team revealed its nickname for Vance over the weekend, as Newsom has launched a new social media style mimicking and mocking President Donald Trump’s.
Why It Matters
The relationship between Trump and Newsom deteriorated after Trump sent thousands of National Guard troops and hundreds of Marines to Los Angeles earlier this summer despite Newsom’s objections.
The president justified the move as necessary to contain protests in the city against his administration’s mass deportation efforts, but Newsom said it was only to try to fulfill “the deranged fantasy of a dictatorial president.”
Newsom’s team have recently been mocking Trump’s social media style, including using derogatory nicknames for his political opponents, writing in all-caps and overtly and exaggeratedly praising himself for real or imaginary achievements. In Trump’s social media world, the California governor is often referred to as “Newscum.” In his mocking posts, Newsom has repeatedly referred to Trump as “tiny hands.”
A highly anticipated “showdown” https://t.co/dKbAFiTEVl pic.twitter.com/Td8WZsjTsC
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) August 18, 2025
What To Know
Newsom’s communications team first used the nickname “Just Dance Vance” during heightened debate over Republican-led redistricting efforts in states such as Texas and Indiana, moves that Trump allies had urged to gain congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Vance visited Indianapolis, where Republicans are under pressure from the Trump administration to redraw the state’s electoral map.
“NOT EVEN JD ‘JUST DANCE’ VANCE CAN SAVE TRUMP FROM THE DISASTROUS MAPS ‘WAR’ HE HAS STARTED,” Newsom’s office wrote on X on Saturday, mimicking Trump’s habit of writing in caps.
The next day, Newsom’s office replied to a post reporting that Vance would be at Trump’s Washington meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday to discuss Trump’s Alaska meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
“JD Vance WILL be in attendance at President Trump’s meeting with Zelensky tomorrow,” reporter Nick Sortor posted. “Are we about to see another Oval Office showdown?!”
He posted a video of the viral White House clash in February, when Zelensky, Trump and Vance argued, with Vance telling Zelensky to “offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.”
Newsom’s team replied to this post with the dancing meme and the caption: “A highly anticipated ‘showdown’.”
Newsweek has contacted Vance’s office via email for comment.
What People Are Saying
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson previously told Newsweek: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Gavin’s obsession is getting a little creepy at this point.”
Governor Gavin Newsom previously told Newsweek: “I’m just following his example. If you have issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns with what he’s putting out as president.”
What Happens Next
The social media posts underscore how modern political communications have moved beyond traditional press releases and into meme culture, which could shape public impressions during the build-up to the 2026 midterms.
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