Gavin Newsom’s office has responded to President Donald Trump’s assertion that the California Governor had pulled out of the 2028 presidential race, saying the president was “sundowning harder than usual.”
On Monday night, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post: “Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!! President DJT.” Although, Newsom has not officially declared a presidential run.
Newsom’s office responded in a post on X later that night: “WOW. THE PRESIDENT IS SUNDOWNING HARDER THAN USUAL TONIGHT!! – GOVERNOR GCN.”
Sundowning refers to when a person with dementia experiences distress, confusion, agitation, hallucinations or delusions in the late afternoon or evening, which can continue into the night, according to the U.K. charity Alzheimer’s Society.
The president’s physical and cognitive fitness has been a frequent source of speculation during his second term, although, Trump and the White House have consistently maintained he is in very good health. Last month, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had “aced” a cognitive test “for the third straight time.”
While Newsom is widely being considered as a front-runner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, he has yet to confirm if he will run. He is currently promoting his book, Young Man in a Hurry, across key primary states, building his national profile.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and Newsom’s press office outside of regular working hours via email for comment.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
