California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s trolling of Donald Trump is in full effect. Newsom has launched a new online merchandise store, the “Patriot Shop,” aimed at mocking Trump’s branding style. And Newsom’s “shop” is already stirring buzz. Among the products is a $100 “Holy Bible” signed by “America’s Favorite Governor!” It quickly sold out after the launch over the weekend. Remember, Trump selling autographed Bibles during the campaign?
Trolling…and Cashing In
It’s Newsome’s own MAGA — Make America Gavin Again — merch.
Not long after the “shop” opened, Newsom bragged that items sold had reached $100,000. He posted: “WOW! WE HAVE SOLD OVER $100K OF THE BEST PRODUCTS EVER MADE!! IF YOU HATE THE PATRIOT SHOP, YOU HATE AMERICA! THANK YOU!”
This post came on Sunday evening, not soon after the shop opened for business earlier on Aug. 24.
“THE PATRIOT SHOP IS NOW OPEN!!!!” Newsom announced on social media Sunday, adopting Trump’s trademark all-caps style. “MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THIS IS THE GREATEST MERCHANDISE EVER MADE. PLEASE ENJOY, AMERICA!”
The Patriot Shop features MAGA-red hats with slogans like “Newsom Was Right About Everything!” tank tops reading “Trump Is Not Hot,” and a T-shirt labeled “The Chosen One,” which is a sarcastic nod to Trump’s 2019 declaration about himself. The website also boasts that purchases act as donations to Newsom’s Campaign for Democracy PAC and to fund the state’s possible remapping, according to the Newsom camp.
Newsom’s trolling extends beyond merch, much to Trump MAGA’s chagrin. He’s been mirroring Trump’s social media habits for weeks, using similar nicknames, all-caps rants, and signing off with “GCN” instead of Trump’s “DJT.” Asked about the strategy, Newsom told reporters, “I’m just following [Trump’s] example. If you have issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns with what he’s putting out as president.”
In addition to the online campaign, Newsom recently signed legislation proposing new congressional maps in California, potentially creating five additional Democratic seats. This is a direct counter to Trump’s push for GOP-friendly redistricting in Texas. Newsom’s office promoted California’s plan, declaring: “THESE ARE ‘PERFECT, BEAUTIFUL’ MAPS. BETTER THAN COLUMBUS, BETTER THAN GOOGLE MAPS, BETTER THAN APPLE MAPS.”
According to the site, the store is managed by Bright Blue Ink, a Texas-based printshop working on behalf of Newsom’s PAC. Nwsom was quick to point out that his products were Made in America, unlike most of Trump’s, which are made in China.
