California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing heavy criticism after his official “@GovPressOffice” account posted a message mocking the release of Israeli hostages, drawing bipartisan condemnation and questions about his judgment. The incident began on Tuesday, when Newsom’s press office responded to a White House post on X featuring a photograph of President Donald Trump alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The White House photo marked the announcement of the release of 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas following the October 7, 2023 terrorist attack. Newsom’s official account replied by posting an image from the movie Dumb and Dumber—a move that many viewed as mocking both the leaders and the context of the hostage release. The post remained online for 14 hours before being deleted, after mounting criticism from users who called the message “offensive” and “deeply disrespectful.”
