California Governor Gavin Newsom faced tough questions during a recent appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he repeatedly avoided giving direct answers about his past support for former President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign. Newsom’s vague and evasive responses have renewed criticism of top Democrats who backed Biden even as public concerns about his health and mental sharpness grew louder.
In the interview, host Kristen Welker pressed Newsom on whether he ever doubted Biden’s ability to serve another four years. Despite Biden’s widely criticized debate performances and growing calls from within the Democratic Party for him to step aside, Newsom claimed, “I never had that,” referring to any concerns about Biden’s capacity. But rather than clearly defending or criticizing Biden, Newsom shifted focus multiple times, often speaking in broad or unclear terms.
>
Gavin Newsom slithers around in an attempt to explain why he’s defended Joe Biden’s capacity to serve a second term:
Welker: You stood by him till the end. Did you ever have concerns about his capacity to serve another four years?
Newsom: “I never had that.”
Welker: Did you… pic.twitter.com/VwpP06B5RP
— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) November 2, 2025
>
When asked directly whether he truly believed Biden could serve until 2029, Newsom again dodged. “Yeah, I think my focus was frankly situational,” he said, before pivoting to criticism of former President Donald Trump. “I was making sure Donald Trump didn’t get back into office to experience everything that we’re experiencing today,” said Newsom.
Welker followed up with a question that many Americans have been asking: “What do you say to Americans who feel misled by you and other top Democrats?” Her reference was clear—many voters feel they were not told the truth about Biden’s fitness for office. But again, Newsom avoided taking responsibility. He said he never experienced anything that would have raised concerns and insisted that his personal interactions with Biden were positive.
This evasiveness has sparked a wider debate about transparency, accountability, and political loyalty inside the Democratic Party. Critics say that prominent Democrats, including Newsom, put party interests ahead of public interest by supporting Biden long after it became clear he was struggling. They argue that this lack of honesty prevented Democratic voters from having a real choice earlier in the campaign season.
This episode also reflects a larger issue in national politics: the growing disconnect between political leadership and public trust. When elected leaders seem more focused on protecting their political alliances than addressing concerns honestly, it weakens faith in the system. Voters want their leaders to be open and truthful, especially when it comes to something as important as the physical and mental fitness of a sitting president.
For Newsom, the timing is especially sensitive. Though he has denied any intention to run for national office, many observers believe he is positioning himself for a future presidential campaign. His inability or unwillingness to speak plainly about Biden’s condition could come back to hurt that ambition. Voters tend to remember who stood up and who stayed silent during moments of crisis.
From a broader perspective, this moment is a lesson on political accountability. Supporters of individual liberty and state sovereignty often argue that power should be closer to the people and not concentrated in Washington. Episodes like this reinforce that view. When national leaders close ranks to protect one of their own, it’s often governors, state lawmakers, and local leaders who are left to deal with the consequences. That’s why many Americans continue to push for a political system that favors transparency, decentralization, and stronger state rights.
As the election season moves forward, the Democratic Party will have to deal with the fallout from Biden’s late exit and the internal battles over who knew what and when. Meanwhile, Republicans are likely to keep pointing to moments like this one to highlight what they see as a pattern of dishonesty and mismanagement on the other side.
In the end, the American people will make their judgment not just on policies, but on whether their leaders told them the truth when it mattered most.
