Gavin Newsom Took His Social Media Too Far. The California Governor Compared Himself to a Real American Psycho
Talk about a pile-on.
California Governor Gavin Newsom stirred up quite a reaction this week on X when he compared himself to the notorious fictional serial killer Patrick Bateman, in what appeared to be an attempt to lampoon President Donald Trump. The move quickly backfired, drawing significant criticism and mocking responses from various online accounts.
This whole thing kicked off after Trump’s War Room account went viral for sharing an image of Trump side-by-side with rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley. Trump had written, “For so many years people have been saying that Elvis and I look alike. Now, this pic has been going all over the place. What do you think?” It seems like a classic Trump move, really, leaning into public perception, or at least his perception of public perception.
Newsom, who has been engaging in a trolling campaign against Trump’s communication style lately, decided to respond in kind. He posted his own side-by-side comparison, this time featuring his face next to Christian Bale’s portrayal of Patrick Bateman from the 2000 film American Psycho. Newsom’s caption read: “For so many years people have been saying that Patrick Bateman and I look alike. Now this pic has been going all over the place. What do you think?”
Newsom asked and the internet delivered
Now, here’s where it really gets interesting. Many online accounts immediately pounced on Newsom’s comparison. Patrick Bateman is, well, a serial killer. He’s a character meant to satirize the excesses of 1980s Wall Street yuppie culture and consumerism, not exactly a flattering comparison to make for a public official. Writer Bridget Phetasy didn’t mince words, retorting, “I think yes, you are a psychopath.”
Independent journalist Nick Shirley, who has had his own online spats with Newsom, also weighed in. He said, “Not sure if your comms guy read who Patrick Bateman is… but I don’t think comparing yourself to Patrick Bateman is the flex you think it is.” It’s a fair point; sometimes these parodies can backfire spectacularly, and this one seems to have done just that. The unhinged nature of Bateman’s character definitely overshadowed any comedic intent.
Even actor Kevin Sorbo got in on the action, quipping that Newsom reminded him “more of Paul Allen. Rich, entitled, and always pushing down the little guy,” referring to another character from the same movie. The Republican Party jumped in too, sharing a photoshopped comparison of Newsom with “Butthead” from Beavis and Butthead. The Trump War Room account also responded with a heavily photoshopped image of Ellen DeGeneres and Newsom.
When contacted about the online reactions, Newsom’s office seemed to confirm the parody was intentional. One member of his press team even quipped, “Many people say he also looks like Elvis!” It’s a cheeky response, but it doesn’t quite deflect from the initial misstep of choosing such a controversial character for the comparison.
It’s worth noting that Newsom has actually been compared to Bateman in the past, though not by himself. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, for example, once likened him to a mix of Bateman and “Sparkle Beach Ken.” However, this particular instance was clearly a deliberate, if ill-advised, parody of President Trump’s social media style. And using Bateman to mock Trump is…kind of funny given the character’s love for the businessman.
(featured image: Gage Skidmore)
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