California Gov. Gavin Newsom attempted to mock President Donald Trump this week by parodying a limited-edition U.S. passport featuring the commander-in-chief’s image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exchange began after the State Department announced that it will roll out special passports to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, prominently featuring Trump’s image on the inside cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not to be outdone, Newsom \u2014 a frequent critic who often takes to social media to needle the president \u2014 jokingly posted an image of a California driver’s license featuring his own portrait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“IN HONOR OF CALIFORNIA\u2019S 175TH ANNIVERSARY, WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT A VERY SPECIAL DRIVER\u2019S LICENSE FOR EVERY CALIFORNIAN THIS SUMMER!” Newsom’s press office wrote on X. “IT WILL FEATURE A HANDSOME, HIGH-QUALITY PHOTO OF ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM. MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT\u2019S THE BEST LICENSE EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. THIS IS ABOUT CELEBRATING OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE (IT IS NOT ABOUT ME, DESPITE THE VERY HANDSOME PHOTO!). ENJOY! \u2014 GOVERNOR GCN.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement to Fox News Digital, the White House said that Trump “is focused on saving our country\u2014not garnering recognition.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Anyone who finds an issue with President Trump celebrating the greatness of our country during our historic semiquincentennial celebration clearly suffers from a severe and incurable disease known as Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a White House spokesperson added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since last summer, Newsom has increasingly adopted a Trump-like rhetorical style on social media, mimicking the president\u2019s tone and penchant for self-celebration while criticizing his policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It\u2019s fun to laugh at our s—-for-brains president who is trashing our great country,” a Newsom spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “The best way to deal with Trump\u2019s absurd leadership is to call it out with a mirror until he takes his job seriously.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In another provocative post, Newsom’s office shared a mock image of a U.S. passport featuring Trump alongside the deceased financier Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a separate weekend post, Newsom hurled insults at Trump, calling him a “loser,” a label Trump himself famously uses against his critics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE ARE COMING UP TO ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM, IN DC (INCLUDING A TOP REPUBLICAN, I WON\u2019T SAY WHO!) TELLING ME, \u2018GAVIN, SIR, YOU ARE AMAZING. AS GOVERNOR OF THE FREE WORLD, YOU MUST GO TO THE WHCA DINNER,\u2019” his office wrote, referring to Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event gained additional notoriety after a gunman allegedly shot a U.S. Secret Service agent nearby before being arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“\u2018YOU WILL DO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT LOSER TRUMP!\u2019 VERY KIND! I WAS NOT PLANNING ON GOING\u2026 BUT NOW EVERYONE IS BEGGING ME BECAUSE I AM MAKING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY ‘HOT’ AGAIN. WE\u2019LL SEE. I AM VERY BUSY TONIGHT! THANK YOU!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n