California Governor Gavin Newsom has sharpened his attacks on President Trump by calling into question the president’s mental sharpness, suggesting he is no longer capable of performing the duties of office. In a recent interview with Fox LA, Newsom said Trump is “not the same person that I dealt with just four years ago” and claimed he’s “incapable of even a train of thought,” adding bluntly, “he’s lost it.”
Newsom, once a strong public defender of President Joe Biden’s mental fitness, is now joining those who question Trump’s capacity to serve, just days before Trump turns 79. His remarks come as part of a broader barrage of criticism that includes accusations that Trump is leading the country toward authoritarianism and undermining democratic norms.
Amid their ongoing battle over Trump’s deployment of federal troops and Marines to Los Angeles during immigration-related protests, Newsom has taken repeated jabs at Trump’s verbal gaffes and memory slips. After Trump incorrectly claimed he had spoken with Newsom on Monday when their conversation actually took place two days earlier Newsom quipped on X, “Trump doesn’t even know what day it is.” His office also mocked Trump for stumbling over the word “primary” during a recent speech and highlighted footage of Trump tripping on the steps to Air Force One, a scene reminiscent of the campaign footage Trump’s team had previously used to criticize Biden.
Back in early 2024, Newsom dismissed concerns about Biden’s age and mental clarity, even following Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report describing Biden as a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” Newsom responded at the time by defending Biden’s capabilities, saying that “it’s because of his age that he’s been so successful,” and praised his leadership as a “masterclass.” He declared himself “all-in” on Biden seeking a second term and described a potential Biden re-election as a “gift for the American people.”
Despite the new focus on Trump’s age and behavior, Trump still remains more visible and more accessible to the media than Biden. However, concerns about his own health and mental clarity persist. Trump did not fully disclose his medical history during the 2024 campaign, instead releasing a brief summary in April stating he was in “excellent health.” That report, while similar in length to Biden’s own disclosures, offered only limited detail.
In recent months, Trump has made several public slip-ups, including confusing the Japanese automaker Nissan with the Japanese steel company Nippon, and repeatedly mixing up names and countries. During the campaign, he referred to GOP primary rival Nikki Haley when he appeared to mean Nancy Pelosi. His freewheeling and unpredictable speaking style something he’s referred to as “the weave” has long been both a hallmark and a point of criticism.
Although both Democratic and Republican opponents tried to use Trump’s age and speaking style against him in last year’s campaign, those efforts failed to significantly shift public opinion. Still, Newsom’s latest remarks suggest Democrats may be preparing to put that issue back in the spotlight.