California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said while he is hoping former President Trump does not get another four years in the White House, he is worried about the “fetishness for autocracy” in the U.S. and globally.
NBC’s Chuck Todd asked Newsom in an interview that aired on “Meet the Press” whether another four years of Trump will “break” the United States.
“I hope we don’t have to experience that,” he responded. “But I worry about democracy. I worry about the fetishness for autocracy that we’re seeing not just from Trump, but around the world, and notably across this country. I’ve made the point about [Ron] DeSantis that I think he’s functionally authoritarian. I’m worried more, in many respects, about Trumpism which transcends well beyond his term and time in tenure.”
Todd pressed Newsom on whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate, or Trump is a “greater threat to democracy.”
“I’ll leave that to more objective minds. I’m concerned about democracy fundamentally,” he said, before Todd pushed him further on who the governor thought is a greater threat.
“I think the vengeance in Donald Trump’s heart right now is more of a threat,” Newsom told Todd.
Newsom added that he is going to focus on helping Biden get reelected instead of worrying about threats to democracy.
“I’m not going to wallow in it. I’m going to work hard to get President Biden re-elected, and work hard to make the case for what he’s done for this country,” he said. “And as I say, I don’t just say it lightly, I think it’s been a master class. What he’s done across the spectrum has been extraordinary. And it is my job and responsibility — it’s all of ours as Democrats — to make the case anew for Biden’s success and his accomplishments in four more years.”