President Donald Trump intensified his attacks on California Governor Gavin Newsom, writing on Truth Social on Aug. 21 that “Gavin Newscum is way down in the polls” and pledging to “save California.” A day later, the president repeated the criticism in the Oval Office, calling the Democrat “incompetent” and using the profanity “bullsh*t” while blaming him for crime and housing problems in Los Angeles. Newsom has responded with a sustained social-media campaign that mimics Trump’s all-caps style and slogans. His press operation has rolled out MAGA-inspired red hats and is preparing a cap emblazoned with “NEWSOM WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING,” moves Newsom says are meant to “hold a mirror” to Trump’s rhetoric and galvanize Democrats. The online sparring comes as Newsom presses voters to approve new congressional maps in a November special election that would add five Democratic seats in California, offsetting a Trump-backed Texas law designed to give Republicans an equal boost. Analysts interviewed by NBC Bay Area warn the ballot measure is a high-stakes test of Newsom’s political clout and could affect the president’s ability to advance his agenda in the next Congress. Betting markets suggest the feud is lifting Newsom’s national profile. Star Sports shortened his odds of winning the 2028 presidential election to 11/2 from 7/1 this week, making him the second favorite behind Vice President J.D. Vance. Pollsters and strategists say the governor’s combative messaging is resonating with Democratic activists but also carries risks if the redistricting vote fails.