Vice President JD Vance offered advice to Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, after the California governor dubbed him “Just Dance Vance” repeatedly on social media.
Newsweek contacted Newsom on Thursday via email outside of regular office hours.
Why It Matters
Newsom has taken to mimicking President Donald Trump’s style on social media, with posts in all caps and insulting nicknames for political opponents. The move intensifies hostilities between the pair, with Trump having repeatedly called Newsom “Newscum” on his Truth Social website.
Newsom has backed a redistricting bill in California that experts say would likely cost the Republicans five seats in the House of Representatives. The move is a response to a Trump-backed Texas bill that could give the GOP five extra House seats from the Lone Star State. The California bill is designed to only take effect if the Texas one is ratified.
What To Know
Vance appeared on Laura Ingraham’s Fox News show on Wednesday, when he was asked: “Newsom’s given you a nickname, which I don’t even understand, called ‘Just Dance Vance,’ so I guess what’s your favorite dance?”
Vance responded: “This idea that Gavin Newsom is somehow going to mimic Donald Trump’s style, I think that ignores the fundamental genius of President Trump’s political success, which is that he’s authentic. He just is who he is.
“You’ve got to be yourself, you’ve got to actually talk to people honestly about the issues. I don’t think it’s that complicated; don’t be a crazy person, be authentic, if the Democrats did that, they’d do a hell of a lot better.”
Johannes Simon/Mario Tama/GETTY
The official Newsom press office X account first dubbed the vice president “Just Dance Vance” on August 16 when commenting on his visit to Indiana, where Republicans have come under pressure from Trump to conduct their own redistricting.
Mimicking Trump’s style on X it said: “NOT EVEN JD ‘JUST DANCE’ VANCE CAN SAVE TRUMP FROM THE DISASTROUS MAPS ‘WAR’ HE HAS STARTED.”
Newsom’s office later doubled down on the nickname, sharing a doctored image of Vance’s face superimposed on Australian break-dancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, who went viral during the 2024 Olympic Games.
Tensions between Newsom and Trump intensified in June when the president deployed Marines and National Guard troops during unrest in Los Angeles sparked by immigration raids in the city. Newsom has been widely tipped as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender.
What People Are Saying
On her Fox News show Laura Ingraham asked: “Newsom’s given you a nickname which I don’t even understand called ‘just dance Vance,’ so I guess what’s your favorite dance? What’s your favorite dance move? It’s the dumbest nickname, but how lost are the Democrats now? You can answer the dance question.”
Vice President JD Vance replied: “I mean look the autopsy for the Democrats, some free political advice from the president of the United States, is stop sounding like crazy people. That really is all it is. This idea that Gavin Newsom is somehow going to mimic Donald Trump’s style, I think that ignores the fundamental genius of President Trump’s political success, which is that he’s authentic.”
What Happens Next?
On Wednesday the Texas House voted to advance the controversial redistricting plan after Democratic lawmakers, who had left the state to break quorum, returned and were placed under police escort.
