**🚨 BREAKING: California Governor Gavin Newsom Sharply Criticized ONE SENIOR POLITICAL FIGURE Following Renewed Debate Over U.S. Tariff Policy, Drawing National Attention to the Ongoing Dispute Over Trade Strategy and Economic Impact**

Sacramento / Washington D.C. – February 16, 2026

California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered one of his most pointed and nationally resonant attacks yet on former President Donald Trump this morning, accusing the ex-president of “reckless economic vandalism” through his continued advocacy for aggressive tariff policies that Newsom claims are already inflicting severe damage on American families, farmers, and manufacturers. The remarks, made during a live press conference at the state capitol, have rapidly escalated into a major national talking point, reigniting fierce debate over U.S. trade strategy, the economic fallout from the Canada tariff dispute, and Trump’s lingering influence on policy despite his removal from office under the 25th Amendment.

Newsom did not mince words. Standing in front of a large screen displaying charts of rising grocery prices, port delays, and job-loss projections in agriculture and manufacturing, the governor stated:

“The man who once promised to make America wealthy again is now trying to make it poorer from his golf-course exile. His obsession with tariffs — slapping 25% duties on Canadian lumber, dairy, steel, and energy — is not strength; it is economic suicide. California families are already paying 12–18% more for building materials and food staples because of these threats. Our farmers can’t export almonds, wine, or dairy to Canada without retaliatory tariffs wiping out their margins. And who pays the price? Not the former president in Mar-a-Lago. Everyday Americans pay it — at the grocery store, at the gas pump, at the hardware store.”

The governor went further, directly linking Trump’s tariff rhetoric to the current constitutional crisis:

“This isn’t abstract policy debate. This is a man who refuses to accept he no longer holds office, yet still tries to dictate trade policy that hurts millions. When you threaten our closest ally and largest trading partner with punitive tariffs — after already questioning their military contributions — you’re not putting America first. You’re putting your own ego first. And the bill lands on working families.”

Newsom’s comments were timed to coincide with fresh data from the California Department of Food and Agriculture showing a projected $1.8 billion revenue loss for the state’s export sector in 2026 if the threatened 25% tariffs on Canadian goods take effect. He also cited a new UC Berkeley study estimating that nationwide consumer prices could rise 4–7% on affected goods, with California — as the nation’s largest agricultural exporter — bearing disproportionate harm.

The former president responded almost immediately on Truth Social:

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“Gavin Newsom — the worst governor in America — is crying about tariffs because he’s owned by China and Big Ag! Canada has ripped us off for decades. I made them pay up once, I’ll make them pay again. Tariffs bring JOBS and MONEY back to America — Newsom just wants open borders and high taxes. Sad loser! MAGA will WIN despite him!!!”

The post quickly garnered over 3.2 million interactions, but it also triggered a barrage of counter-posts from California officials, economists, and ordinary citizens sharing receipts for higher lumber, milk, and gasoline prices. Hashtags #NewsomVsTrump and #TariffTruth trended nationally within the hour, with memes juxtaposing Newsom’s charts against Trump’s Truth Social rants.

The dispute has national implications far beyond California. Canada supplies nearly 60% of U.S. crude oil imports, 30% of natural gas, and critical softwood lumber used in housing construction. Retaliatory tariffs from Ottawa could spike gasoline prices nationwide by 30–50 cents per gallon and add thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home, according to estimates from the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Several Republican governors from lumber-dependent states — including Idaho and Montana — have privately expressed alarm, with one telling Politico: “We support America First, but we can’t afford to lose Canada as a market.”

Acting President JD Vance has so far remained silent on the tariff escalation, though White House sources say he is “reviewing all options” and seeking briefings from the U.S. Trade Representative. Vance’s team is reportedly under intense pressure from both Trump loyalists — who demand aggressive tariffs — and moderate Republicans who fear voter backlash over rising costs.

Democratic leaders seized the moment. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeted: “Governor Newsom is right: tariffs that hurt American families are not strength — they’re failure. We need trade policy that builds, not burns.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries added: “Trump’s tariff obsession is economic malpractice. The country can’t afford another round of his failed experiments.”

Public reaction has been swift and polarized. A flash poll from Quinnipiac released this afternoon shows 54% of registered voters believe recent tariff threats are “hurting the economy,” including 41% of Republicans — a significant shift from earlier surveys. Pro-Trump rallies in Florida and Texas drew crowds chanting “Tariffs now!” while counter-demonstrations in California and the Midwest carried signs reading “Stop the Price Hikes.”

The controversy has also revived broader questions about Trump’s post-presidency role. With impeachment articles advancing, property seizures underway, lawyer defections ongoing, and the Senate weighing disqualification under the 14th Amendment, Newsom’s direct challenge has become a powerful symbol: even as Trump’s formal power has been stripped, his policy ideas — and their economic consequences — continue to dominate the national conversation.

Whether this marks the beginning of a sustained Democratic offensive on trade or simply another chapter in the endless Trump cycle remains unclear. What is already evident is that Governor Newsom’s sharp words on President’s Day weekend have ensured that the tariff debate — and Trump’s shadow influence over it — will remain front and center as the 2026 midterms approach.