California Governor Gavin Newsom took heavy fire on social media Monday following a bizarre press conference where he admitted that recent cleanup efforts in San Francisco were done only to impress Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The city–which has become ravaged by violent crime, drug abuse, and homelessness under Democrat rule–received a massive makeover this week ahead of a planned United States-China summit with Xi and President Joe Biden. But according to Newsom, the cleanup wasn’t for Americans’ sake, but for all of the “fancy leaders” visiting the city.
“I know folks say, ‘Oh, they’re just cleaning up this place because all these fancy leaders are coming into town’,” Newsom said during a press conference, before admitting, “That’s true because it’s true.”
“It’s also true for months and months and months before APEC, we’ve been having different conversations, and we’ve raised the bar of expectation between the city, the county, and the state and our federal partners.”
Newsom’s comments immediately sparked a backlash from critics, who expressed frustration on the social media platform X.
“So Democrats will clean up our cities for Xi Jinping but not our own citizens?” asked Sentinel Action Fund president Jessica Anderson. “Got it.”
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Newsom admits he only cleaned up San Francisco because Xi came to visit. “That’s true. Because it’s true.” pic.twitter.com/vKgz1BQl4A
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 13, 2023
It’s pretty amazing that so many people keep voting for politicians who will openly admit they don’t give a s**t about them. https://t.co/dBG69QiWdw
— Doug Powers (@ThePowersThatBe) November 13, 2023
“Absolutely remarkable to see Newsom admit that everyone knows San Francisco has become a complete embarrassment, and the only reason they’re doing anything about it is to make it look more presentable for politicians they want to impress,” wrote OutKick writer Ian Miller. “What a disgrace.”
“Every single problem in America’s cities — the crime, the drugs, the homelessness, could all be solved overnight but the radical left-wing ideologues that run these places simply refuse to do it unless foreign dictators are coming to town,” ~Michael Seifert [@realmichaelseif]
Arkansas Governor and former Trump White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders also weighed in, writing, “The saddest part of this is that California’s leaders are showing they could clean up their streets – they just choose not to.”
“Here in Arkansas, we’re cracking down on crime, lowering taxes, and investing in communities. And we’re doing it for Arkansans, not the CCP.”
“I have to respect the honesty if not the years of willful disregard for the quality of life for San Francisco residents,” video journalist Zach Weissmueller quipped.
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San Francisco has deteriorated into chaos and squalor under Democrat rule. They can't clean up the city for Americans, but they can clean up for Xi Jinping? It shows all you need to know about who really runs the show. https://t.co/18ktXMOyty
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) November 13, 2023
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also offered a response, saying in a post that “San Francisco has deteriorated into chaos and squalor under Democrat rule.”
“They can’t clean up the city for Americans, but they can clean up for Xi Jinping? It shows all you need to know about who really runs the show.”
DeSantis and Newsom have established themselves as bitter rivals in recent years, clashing over their responses to COVID-19, gun control, illegal immigration, and gender ideology in schools.
Both governors have agreed to a televised debate moderated by Fox News host Sean Hannity. The event is planned for November 30 in Georgia.
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