California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, trolled Donald Trump with a Labor Day post as the president and the White House touted their support for American workers.
Why It Matters
Newsom has increasingly taken direct aim at Trump in recent weeks, with his press office releasing a barrage of social media messages mocking the president’s signature style of posting. The California governor’s office continued this tactic on Labor Day, as Trump and the White House shared more traditional messaging about celebrating workers.
What to Know
Trump shared a Labor Day post on Truth Social on Monday afternoon, featuring an image of himself greeting a group of workers wearing white hard hats. The image included the message: “Celebrating 250 years of the American worker. Happy Labor Day.”
In a statement emailed to Newsweek, the White House described Trump as a “champion” of working class Americans.
“From surging native-born employment and rising blue-collar wages to innovative workforce initiatives like expanded apprenticeships and trade school funding, the Trump Administration is reversing decades of neglect and finally putting American Workers first,” the statement said.
The president and Republicans broadly have positioned themselves as the party of the working class, as the demographic of voters has shifted rightward in recent cycles. This marks a political change, as Democrats had long positioned themselves as the party of working men and women, aligning themselves closely with labor unions. While Democrats still do so, the shift of working-class voters toward the GOP has continued.
Newsom’s Labor Day message took a different tone from Trump’s, taking aim at the president’s policies.
“HAPPY LABOR DAY TO ALL, INCLUDING THE SCUM THAT IS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY WITH A SICK WARPED RADICAL MIND, KILLING SMALL BUSINESSES WITH CRAZY TARIFFS, TAKING HEALTH CARE FROM CHILDREN, PARDONING J6 THUGS, SENDING THE ‘PRIVATE ARMY’ TO ARREST GRANDMA, WRECKING OUR BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT, DEFUNDING OUR SCHOOLS, AND DESTABILIZING LONG-STANDING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS. HOPEFULLY THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, AND OTHER GOOD AND COMPASSIONATE JUDGES THROUGHOUT THE LAND, WILL SAVE US FROM THE DECISIONS OF THE MONSTERS WHO WANT OUR COUNTRY TO GO TO HELL. BUT FEAR NOT, WE HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN RECENT WEEKS, AND AMERICA WILL SOON BE SAFE AND GREAT AGAIN! AGAIN, HAPPY LABOR DAY, AND GOD BLESS AMERICA!” the governor’s press office account wrote on X, attributing the statement to Newsom.
In a series of posts later in the day, Newsom’s press office account also highlighted stats about California’s support for workers.
“A new report shows that California is a national leader for workers, with strong policies on wages, worker protections & labor rights – making our communities, businesses, & families stronger,” it said, linking to an August 28 report from Oxfam.
Newsom v. Trump
The California governor, who is widely viewed as a 2028 presidential contender for Democrats, has positioned himself as a key voice pushing back against Trump and his agenda.
Over the past few weeks, Newsom’s press office has turned its social media feed into a stream of all-caps threats, pop culture parodies and AI-edited meme content, aimed squarely at mocking Trump in style while countering Republican initiatives in substance. The tone is snarky, combative, and unmistakably modeled on the president’s online persona.
The governor’s posts have drawn praise from liberals while many on the right have criticized his tactics.
What People Are Saying
Former President Barack Obama on Monday: “Labor Day is a chance to celebrate America’s workers, and the labor unions who have fought so hard for them. But at a time when AI is threatening to disrupt or even eliminate entire categories of jobs, it’s also important to think about how we can embrace new technology without losing the purpose and dignity that comes with work.”
Vice President JD Vance on his official X: “President Trump and Vice President Vance are fighting every day to bring back American manufacturing and make America a better place for all working families. Happy Labor Day to the workers who make America great!”
Former President Joe Biden on X: “Today we celebrate American workers – the heart and soul of our nation. Unions built the middle class. And the middle class built this country. Happy Labor Day, America.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on X: “This Labor Day, America works for Americans again. 100% of all new job gains have gone to U.S. citizens, and 2.5 million Americans are back at work since January. Under Biden, 88% of all jobs went to foreign born workers. Meanwhile DHS reforms have saved taxpayers over $13.2 billion. President Trump and I are putting the American worker FIRST. Happy Labor Day!”
What Happens Next
Democrats and Republicans will continue to compete for the support of working-class voters, with both parties attempting to position themselves as the best option for American workers.
The post Donald Trump’s and Gavin Newsom’s Very Different Labor Messages appeared first on Newsweek.
