Gavin Newsom’s Team Unveils New Nickname for Laura Ingraham

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s team has used a new nickname for Laura Ingraham, labeling the Fox News host “Low Ratings Laura.”

The post is the latest in a growing string of insults from Newsom or his team, many mimicking the branding style of President Donald Trump.

Newsweek has contacted Newsom’s office and Fox News for comment via email.

Why It Matters

Newsom has shifted his social media strategy in recent months to include more direct attacks, sarcasm and meme-driven engagement. The result has been a barrage of viral posts aimed at Republican figures, often laced with bombastic rhetoric reminiscent of Trump’s style.

Mimicking the president’s style on social media, the governor has posted in all caps and employed insulting nicknames for political opponents. The move intensifies hostilities between the pair, with Trump having repeatedly called Newsom “Newscum” on his Truth Social website.

What To Know

Governor Newsom’s press office wrote on X on Thursday: “LAURA ‘LOW RATINGS’ INGRAHAM ON FOX HAS A TERRIBLE CASE OF NEWSOM DERANGEMENT SYNDROME (NDS!). THE AMERICAN PEOPLE LOVE ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM, AMERICA’S FAVORITE GOVERNOR!!! FOX SHOULD CANCEL LAURA IMMEDIATELY—OR FACE HUGE ‘CONSEQUENCES!!!’ THANK YOU!—GCN.”

Ingraham herself has not publicly addressed the nickname. However, she remains a vocal critic of Newsom’s policies, especially on her show.

As of August 18, The Ingraham Angle ranks as the sixth most-watched show on Fox News and the 18th most-watched across all U.S. television weekday broadcasts, drawing an average daily audience of about 2.755 million viewers, according to the U.S. Television Database.

The nickname for Ingraham is part of a trend.

On Monday, Newsom’s office unveiled a new nickname for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem following her repeated comments about California.

The office wrote on X: “NEW CHARACTER ALERT: The Kosplay Kristi universe just expanded!! Meet Kowgirl Kristi—riding into America’s nightmares near you.”

The post was accompanied by a sports card, likely AI-generated, of a cartoon version of Noem in a cowboy hat.

Similarly, Newsom’s office offered a new appellation for Vice President JD Vance, dubbing him “Just Dance Vance.”

Newsom’s team posted a meme of Vance’s face on the body of Australian break-dancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, who went viral when she scored zero points in the 2024 Olympic breakdancing competition.

Vance responded to the nickname when asked about it on The Ingraham Angle.

“I mean look the autopsy for the Democrats, some free political advice from the president of the United States, is stop sounding like crazy people,” he said. “That really is all it is. This idea that Gavin Newsom is somehow going to mimic Donald Trump’s style, I think that ignores the fundamental genius of President Trump’s political success, which is that he’s authentic.”

What People Are Saying

Vice President JD Vance said on The Ingraham Angle: “You’ve got to be yourself. You’ve got to actually talk to people honestly about the issues. I don’t think it’s that complicated; don’t be a crazy person, be authentic, if the Democrats did that, they’d do a hell of a lot better.”

Star Sports political betting analyst William Kedjanyi previously told Newsweek: “Gavin Newsom has always been a well-recognized figure in American politics but recently he’s asserted himself as a leader of the resistance against President Donald Trump, especially with regards to more combative communications and taking Trump head on and getting under his skin. He’s now 5/2 from 7/2 to be declared the Democratic Presidential Nominee in 2028.”

What Happens Next

Ingraham joins the growing list of conservative targets in the crosshairs of California’s top official, and Newsom’s digital communications team has shown no signs of slowing its combative approach.

Whether these rhetorical jabs will resonate with voters or simply serve to inflame partisan divisions remains an open question.