Gavin Newsom has taken on the burden of being the chief warner for the Democratic party, a role that requires him to sound alarms that others may be too cautious to voice. His explosive claim about Donald Trump’s third-term ambitions is the most significant warning he has issued to date.
This role requires a willingness to break with convention and risk criticism. By disclosing a private presidential meeting, Newsom has shown he is willing to do just that, arguing that the gravity of the threat outweighs the need for political politeness.
As chief warner, his job is to make the threat feel real and immediate. His use of vivid anecdotes (the FDR portrait), tangible evidence (the ballroom plans), and urgent rhetoric (“We’re losing this country in real time”) are all tools for shaking the public out of complacency.
It’s a lonely and high-stakes role, but one that could define Newsom’s political future. He is betting that the nation needs a clear, loud voice to alert it to danger, and he has decided that he will be that voice, regardless of the personal or political cost.