Newsom warns Trump could suspend 2028 election

California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that he fears President Donald Trump could attempt to cancel the 2028 presidential election to remain in power. In an interview aired Tuesday night, Newsom told Colbert, "I fear that we will not have an election in 2028."

During the appearance, Newsom described his broader approach to challenging Trump and the GOP, including efforts to engage across the aisle and learn from opponents. He said it is important to have civil engagements and dialogue, adding, "I think it’s important to have those civil engagements. I think it’s important to dialogue. It’s important to learn from your opponents, and it’s important to reconcile your weaknesses."

Newsom noted that Democrats have faced a difficult period during Trump’s second term, describing a time of anxiety and stress as Trump dominates the national conversation. He said, "A lot of anxiety, a lot of stress, a lot of folks that honestly don’t know if we’re going to get our country back, and I get it. This guy is flooding the zone, he’s dominating the narratives. Facts don’t seem to matter and Democrats, frankly, have had a difficult time pushing back."

He also framed his political strategy in stark terms, arguing that Democrats must stop what he described as a leadership deficit within the party. Newsom said many Democrats feel a sense of weakness that harms their brand, but that voters respond to a combative, substantive push. "And I think what people appreciate is that we’re willing to fight and not only fight symbolically by having a little bit of fun but fight substantively. We have 41 lawsuits against the son of a----. We’re pushing back and we’re winning," he said.

The remarks come as Newsom seeks to reset the Democratic message after a challenging 2024 cycle and as he weighs how to engage with political opponents in a polarized climate. The governor has previously used high-profile interviews with conservative voices to broaden dialogue, including extensive conversations with Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon earlier this year. Newsom suggested that civil engagement and cross-aisle dialogue are essential to strengthening the party’s ability to win back power, including in the House and at the statewide level. He framed the current moment as a test of the party’s resolve and messaging, not as a call for retreat from confrontation.

The interview was conducted in a public forum and comes as Newsom continues to position California as a counterweight to the Trump era, while the White House did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on the remarks.