California Gov. Gavin Newsom (left) said the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk (right) has not swayed his political strategy going forward amid concerns about the societal impact of inflammatory political rhetoric. (Getty Images)
During an event promoting a new initiative to improve the well-being of young men and boys on Tuesday, Newsom was asked whether the rebrand was part of a changing calculus for the governor on how he intends to approach campaigning going forward.
"No," Newsom insisted. "Because I'm the same guy that walked on the tarmac with Donald Trump. I'm the same guy that would pick up his phone call. I'm the same person that sat down not just with Charlie Kirk, but with Steve Bannon, with the guy who created this space, you know, ‘Language, Borders and Culture,’ Michael Savage, back in the 90s, you know, was the dominant voice on talk radio. The person that sat down with Newt Gingrich, who was one of the leaders of my recall. I'm that same person."
Newsom's response followed a different question about the California governor's new initiative supporting young men and boys. The governor was asked whether Kirk's death played any role, or inspired the governor, in shaping the newly announced initiative, which builds on efforts Newsom initiated through a statewide executive order he signed earlier this summer.
"I appreciate the question. I mean, I believe in civility. I believe in an open hand, not a closed fist," Newsom responded. "I just think, at the end of the day — I said it inside a moment ago — divorce is not an option, period. Full stop. We've got to live together, across our differences, and there are a lot of differences in this state, this nation, for that matter, the world we're trying to build."
An image of anti-ICE vandalism was shared with Fox News by the Justice Department after ten individuals were charged for their roles in the shooting of a Texas police officer near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility. (Justice Department)
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Meanwhile, rhetoric from Newsom's "Voter Registration Day Rally" similarly likened Republican-led redistricting efforts to "pre-Jim Crow" era policies.
"It's about knowing that you can walk outside your home and not be detained and deported, not be lynched, because of the color of your skin," California state legislator, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, said during the Tuesday night virtual rally promoting her state's Proposition 50. "[Republicans] are doing every single thing that they can to take us back to pre-Jim Crow. And I am not being hyperbolic."
Fox News Digital did not receive a response after reaching out to Newsom's office and campaign team to see if the governor, or any of his representatives, wanted to comment further about the decision to rebrand Tuesday night's event promoting Proposition 50 and the broader issue of inflammatory political rhetoric following Kirk's assassination.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/newsom-says-political-strategy-remains-unchanged-despite-renaming-anti-trump-f-k-around-find-out-event