Gavin Newsom Hits Karoline Leavitt Right in the Ego With Scathing New Nickname

California Governor Gavin Newsom is no stranger to online feuds, but his latest jab has turned heads across the political spectrum. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Newsom’s press office took aim at White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, unveiling a new nickname that’s already catching fire: “KaroLYING Leavitt.”

“24 hours later and KaroLYING Leavitt still hasn’t sent the ‘evidence’ she promised to send. These people are LIARS!” the post read, accompanied by a fiery graphic.

The insult came as part of Newsom’s pushback against claims from the White House over legal threats involving UCLA. While Leavitt has endured other unflattering labels during her tenure — including an odd nickname given to her by Donald Trump — this one seems to be striking a nerve online.

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Social media erupts over “KaroLYING”

Newsom has now repeated the moniker in multiple posts, with many users applauding his wordplay. One commenter wrote, “Karolyin Leavitt is a banger, I’m sorry,” while others responded with reaction memes, including a pen on fire to symbolize the “burn” and a clip from Dumb and Dumber celebrating the jab as “epic.”

Still, not everyone is impressed. Some critics argued that the governor’s trolling tactics cheapen the discourse. “Who is running this account? A bunch of teenagers?” one user asked.

A bigger political play?

Justin Sullivan/Getty

The exchange comes as Newsom continues to fuel speculation about his presidential ambitions. After debating Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and hinting to The Wall Street Journal that the White House could be in his future, Newsom’s online strategy looks increasingly like an audition for national relevance.

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Whether voters view “KaroLYING Leavitt” as sharp political branding or juvenile mudslinging, one thing is clear: Newsom knows how to keep himself in the spotlight.