Overview
- Newsom, who posted Monday on X, shared a split image of himself and Patrick Bateman using phrasing that copied Trump's 2024 Elvis caption.
- The post drew swift ridicule from online commentators, with writer Bridget Phetasy calling him a psychopath and journalist Nick Shirley saying the comparison was a bad flex.
- Newsom’s press office told Fox News the post was a parody and joked that many people also say he looks like Elvis.
- The New York Post reported an earlier, quickly deleted version compared Newsom to actor Christian Bale, and Blaze Media said the post surpassed 4.5 million views.
- Coverage from right-leaning outlets cast the episode as performative trolling that distracts from governing, underscoring the risks for officials who chase viral memes.