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‘What the hell?’ Disappointed Conservatives ticked at Trump for kissing up to Gavin Newsom

April 13, 2023 | | Print Article

Former President Donald Trump is being blasted by some on the right after telling Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Wednesday that he “could never hit” California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) because he was “so nice to me.”

(Video Credit: Fox News)

“You have a very ambitious guy in California, but he’s done a terrible job with the state,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” while discussing the 2024 election, the chances of President Biden running again, and his indictment.

“I used to get along great with him when I was president. Got along really good … Gavin,” the former president added.

“You got along with Gavin Newsom?” Carlson incredulously asked.

“I did. I really did. He was always very nice to me, said the greatest things. He would say things like, ‘He’s doing a great job,’” Trump recounted.

“About you?” Carlson asked again.

“About me, that’s why I could never hit him because he was so nice to me, just laying in wait right?” Trump stated, making it clear that there was an ulterior motive to Newsom’s congeniality. “But he was very nice to me, relatively speaking.”

The remarks taken in full context indicate that Trump does not attack those who don’t attack or threaten him. But it is also clear he never trusted Gavin Newsom. Despite that evident fact, a number on the right took issue with what they saw as cozying up to the California leftist who seems to prefer Trump over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R).

“He’s going to get rolled by Trump. Trump’s just going to roll him,” Newsom recently commented on the contest between Trump and DeSantis. “Thumped.”

(Video Credit: MSNBC)

Some high-profile conservatives were astonished that Trump would say good things about Newsom who appears to have a penchant for communist ideology.

“I’m really disappointed in Trump over his kissing up to Gavin Newsom,” commentator Kurt Schlichter said blasting the former president. “This leftist monster is A-OK because he’s been nice to Trump? Conservative @GovRonDeSantis is awful because he has not been nice lately? What the hell? Has Trump learned nothing at all?”

“Gavin Newsom has pushed some of the most radical policies in the US, including hundreds of billions in reparations,” Chronicles Magazine editor Pedro Gonzalez tweeted expressing frustration with Trump’s friendly handling of Newsom. “And Trump just said he could never ‘hit him’ because Newsom was ‘so nice to me.’ Trump can’t fight the left because he identifies more with the left than not.”

Conservative John Cardillo was equally flabbergasted over the issue, saying, “This interview summed it up perfectly. All anyone has to do is flatter Trump and they can get away with whatever they want.”

Actor and producer Nick Searcy also took issue with Trump’s words on Newsom. “This is disqualifying. If Trump cannot denounce an evil communist weapon like @GavinNewsom because he said nice things about him, he can and will be rolled by flattery. Very disappointing,” he tweeted.

Trump’s allies point out that critics are taking his comment out of context, ignoring that he said the governor did a terrible job and was probably lying in wait to attack the former president. They have a point but hurt themselves by attempting to shift the blame to supporters of DeSantis.

“Some people are so DeSperate to stop our movement that they think deceptively editing a clip from last night’s interview will help them. Wrong!” the Trump War Room blasted on Twitter. “President Trump trashed Newsom’s job performance: ‘He’s done a terrible job with the state.'”

Donald Trump Jr. also took a swipe at his father’s detractors, “Why did @townhallcom pull a FAKE NEWS move and dishonestly edit the clip of President Trump talking about Gavin Newsom to leave out the part where he attacked him??? All of the pro-DeSantis influencers claiming that Trump refused to attack Gavin were knowingly lying again. SAD!”

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