By John Q. Hosedrinker 
In the wake of a tough night for Republicans, California Governor Gavin Newsom celebrated the passage of Proposition 50, which allows Democrats to control congressional redistricting. This victory could lead to a gain of up to five House seats for the Democrats. Newsom’s office responded with a series of AI-generated memes depicting Trump in unflattering situations, along with provocative captions. Newsom also posted a WWE-style video and trolled Trump’s account, solidifying his victory lap after the Democrats already had a successful night.
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Newsom Roasts Trump Tantrum With Barrage of Babies Crying Salty Tears. The whole thing, as it seems, is a hilarious takedown. It’s impossible not to crack a smile, or even burst out laughing, seeing how Gavin Newsom decided to fight fire with fire, or more accurately, with a flood of crying babies. The internet, already a swirling vortex of opinions, memes, and general chaos, seemed to collectively agree: this was a good one. It’s a bit of a surreal moment for American politics, but a welcome one for some.
This petty, stupid shit, as someone pointed out, is exactly what politicians should have been doing a long time ago. The posts, which seem to be a series of AI-generated images, depict various scenes of Trump, or rather, a baby Trump, in classic Trumpian scenarios – complete with the signature angry expressions and, of course, the ever-present diaper. The entire premise is a direct, mocking response to Trump’s often childish and easily triggered behavior. The consensus is that Trump seems to hate being mocked, that mockery really gets under their skin more than anything. It’s a form of power from the public they always try to take away first, because they know how powerful it is when they use it against the innocent.
And the memes are just spot on. One post features a baby Trump, looking utterly distraught, with a crying face, in a setting that’s reminiscent of one of Trump’s rallies. There’s another, equally brutal, that seems to depict a baby Trump reaching for a bottle, an obvious nod to his well-documented love of fast food. It is funny because, as another comment states, that’s exactly what Trump would do. It’s a taste of his own medicine, and many seem to be enjoying the taste.
The response to this kind of satire is revealing, it seems to play into his “pathetic man baby” vibes that many perceive. Trump thrives on appearing tough, on exuding power, and on inspiring fear. When that is taken away, as the posts seem to be doing, the response is clearly and loudly mocked. His methods do not work on everyone, but they absolutely trigger the troll if you do it back to them.
Newsom’s social media team, or whoever is behind this, seems to understand this perfectly. This person is clearly good at “online shitposting”. It’s not just the images themselves, but the context and delivery. The posts are seemingly designed to go viral, they play on the existing online sentiment, and the way they have been shared and amplified shows that they have certainly succeeded. Trump and his MAGA cronies have been doing this for years; it’s time that Democrats finally fight back and play dirty.
There is a sense that this might be a sign of the times. Several comments touch on the absurdity of modern politics, the descent into pettiness, and the need to fight fire with fire. Some people hate this timeline for American politics, but for others, it’s hilarious to see. If you can bring these people down with comedy, they stand no chance. This, for many, is the only effective language.
The tone shifts a little, some of the comments express some hesitation. One comment suggests it’s a bit insulting this is the norm, while others are quick to point out that this is how to communicate with the public in an effective way now. The unwritten rules of ‘punching up’ and *parody* are what confuses some people.
Overall, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. The main sentiment is one of glee, a collective cathartic release. The comment about a pacifier not being big enough for Trump’s mouth is an excellent example of this. The barrage of images, the AI, the overall message is being very effective. And in the digital age, being effective is half the battle.
The idea of Newsom running for president is brought up, the whole thing would be hilarious. The whole idea is like the perfect storm of online trolling and political commentary. It’s a sign of the times, a reflection of the current political climate, and a testament to the power of social media. And perhaps, it’s a sign that the political landscape is changing, and some politicians are ready to play a new game.