President Donald Trump late Wednesday used his Truth Social account to attack California Governor Gavin Newsom, branding him "Gavin Newscum," claiming the Democrat is "destroying the once Great State of California," and pledging, "I will save California." The post marked Trump’s first public response after weeks of online taunts from Newsom, whose press office has been imitating the president’s all-caps style and idiosyncratic spelling. Newsom’s meme-driven strategy has drawn wide attention. AFP reports that followers of the governor’s press-office account on X have surged 450 percent since mid-June, while Google searches for Newsom have risen 500 percent since Aug. 1. The tactic, hailed by some Democrats as a blueprint for countering Trump’s social-media dominance, has rankled Republicans and conservative commentators. The digital sparring highlights the growing importance of social-media theatrics in U.S. politics as both men position themselves for national influence. Newsom, often mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential contender, is using the exchanges to amplify his profile, while Trump, already campaigning on a promise to revive California, is leveraging the feud to energize his base.