Ron DeSantis is ā€œfundamentally authoritarianā€, but Donald Trumpā€™s quest for ā€œvengeanceā€ poses an even greater threat to democracy, Californiaā€™s Democratic governor Gavin Newsom said on Sunday.

Newsom took aim at the leading two candidates for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination during a hard-hitting and wide-ranging interview on NBCā€™s Meet the Press, the final episode with its long-time host Chuck Todd.

ā€œI worry about democracy,ā€ he said. ā€œI worry about the fetishness for autocracy that weā€™re seeing not just from Trump, but around the world, and notably across this country.

ā€œIā€™ve made the point about DeSantis that I think heā€™s functionally authoritarian. Iā€™m worried more, in many respects, about Trumpism, which transcends well beyond his term and time in tenure.ā€

Newsom added: ā€œThe vengeance in Donald Trumpā€™s heart right now is more of a threat.ā€

  • iforgotmyinstance@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I know Newsom is trying to jockey for a presidential bid, but I do worry what will replace him. Heā€™s been in office through this whole MAGA uprising and his replacement could end up being some right wing chud.

    • nfh@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      By law he can only be Governor of California for two terms, so somebody has to replace him. On a quick glance, no Republican has won a state-wide election here since Arnold Schwarzenegger, and I found only one other since the 90s. A more conservative Democrat is a possibility, but Iā€™m not worried a Republican would win here.

    • Bye@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Heā€™s playing the ā€œwhat if Biden trips down the stairs againā€ game.

      Pretty good game to play.

    • Cylusthevirus@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      There arenā€™t any right wing chuds getting elected in state level elections in California. We donā€™t do that shit here.

      That said, Gavin is a sleaze and we donā€™t need any more of those at the top. Dude canā€™t keep it in his pants and boned his campaign managerā€™s - more importantly his good friendā€™s - wife. That sort of unforced error should be disqualifying. There are over 300 million people in this nation and I know we can find one to be President that doesnā€™t sleep around mind mindbogglingly stupid ways.

      • Reptorian@lemmy.zip
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        1 year ago

        Ideally, sleazes arenā€™t electable. But, at this point, Iā€™d vote for a sleaze that respect that wills of the people than a non-sleaze trying to destroy it. So, if Gavin is nominated, he gets my vote over any Republicans.

        I voted for Joe Biden, and that was hard, but at least I picked the correct choice given the two options.

        • Cylusthevirus@kbin.social
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          1 year ago

          Iā€™m not saying donā€™t vote for him but heā€™s not getting my vote in the primaries, and Iā€™d encourage everyone to look at other options. I think Elizabeth Warren would be good; she has concrete policy proposals.

          • Reptorian@lemmy.zip
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            1 year ago

            I think Gavin Newsom is likely to take the nomination. He isnā€™t getting my vote either, and my vote depends on the rosters thatā€™s up.

      • lolcatnip@reddthat.com
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        1 year ago

        So many people actually prefer sleazy politicians, though. Trump is the obvious example, but Silvio Berlusconi was really the master of exploiting his sleaze appeal.