California Gov. Gavin Newsom was slammed for urging people to support small, local businesses as the state faces stricter coronavirus restrictions.
“Today is Small Business Saturday. California is home to over 4 million small businesses. This holiday season, shop safe and shop local to help support our economy and the over 7 million workers that help keep our small businesses going,” Newsom tweeted the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is an American shopping holiday.
Today is Small Business Saturday. California is home to over 4 million small businesses. This holiday season, shop safe and shop local to help support our economy and the over 7 million workers that help keep our small businesses going.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) November 28, 2020
Twitter users hit back at Newsom for the tweet, characterizing it as tone-deaf in light of coronavirus restrictions in the state.
Political commentator Dave Rubin tweeted a video of himself saying, “Gavin Newsom, go f— yourself.”
I try not to tweet on the weekend, but so many people sent me this ridiculously hypocritical tweet from Commander Newsom that I felt I had to post this personal message. Please share… https://t.co/k0LzdhKL9X pic.twitter.com/sHfL7Xrn5a
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) November 29, 2020
Others issued similar sentiments.
This seems about as genuine Jeff Bezos tweeting that you should support brick-and-mortar stores. https://t.co/EidAcdGNfS
— Eddie Zipperer (@EddieZipperer) November 29, 2020
The equivalent of Jeffrey Epstein tweeting “save the children” https://t.co/HbSZ7rwEBJ
— Mike Coudrey (@MichaelCoudrey) November 29, 2020
You are a bad person. https://t.co/zUcYRm3iU7
— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) November 29, 2020
Is this a parody account? https://t.co/xlvzAqyfN7
— Bridget Phetasy (@BridgetPhetasy) November 29, 2020
Translation: “I killed all the small businesses in California with callous and arbitrary lockdowns, shifting all commerce to Amazon, but please don’t notice while I hypocritically virtue signal.” https://t.co/6S7PL1yEwo
— Matt Kibbe (@mkibbe) November 28, 2020
He’s so tone deaf to what Californians are facing I’m surprised he didn’t include a link to the Plumpjack Winery’s Black Friday Weekend wine sale. https://t.co/dPVaBDECVg
— JohnHCox (@TheRealJohnHCox) November 28, 2020
is this some kind of sick joke?
Democrat Lockdown Leaders SHUT DOWN small businesses but allowed giant corporations like Target Walmart McDonald’s to STAY OPEN
honestly f*** these politicians with their coronavirus cynicism authoritarianism hypocrisy and incompetence https://t.co/zEqy1TyYwn
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) November 28, 2020
This has got to be the most insulting, disingenuous post I’ve ever read. You’re a fucking criminal @GavinNewsom who’s managed to run this great state into the ground. Get bent. https://t.co/lJpEONTGRe
— Jason Stapleton (@Jason_Stapleton) November 28, 2020
You’re joking right? You closed and destroyed small business
The ones that are still alive are desperately trying to leave https://t.co/po69qK1r4t
— Kevin Sorbo (@ksorbs) November 29, 2020
Narcissistic behavior right here… destroying something and then pretending to care by “building them back up.” https://t.co/K8ZV44LT8c
— Elisha (@ElishaKrauss) November 29, 2020
I’ll meet you at The French Laundry, @GavinNewsom. You’re buying. https://t.co/ISxzEpCQu9
— Keith Malinak (some chump) (@KeithMalinak) November 29, 2020
Certain counties in California, including Los Angeles County, are under a temporary stay-at-home order until Dec. 21.
“Residents are advised to stay home as much as possible and always wear a face covering over their nose and mouth when they are outside their household and around others,” officials said.
The reaction to Newsom’s tweet comes after photos of the Democratic governor dining in a French restaurant with people from other households and not wearing a mask appeared online, sparking outrage.
“EXCLUSIVE: We’ve obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he’s in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed,” Fox 11’s Bill Melugin tweeted, accompanied by photos.
EXCLUSIVE: We’ve obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he’s in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed. 10pm on @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) November 18, 2020
Newsom was met with fierce pushback over the dinner at the restaurant, where meals cost $350 a person, according to a menu from 2018.
“His kids can learn in person. But yours can’t,” San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer tweeted. “He can celebrate birthday parties. But you can’t. He can dine on a $350 meal at one of California’s fanciest restaurants during the worst recession in generations. But you definitely can’t. Can you believe this? I can’t.”
Newsom has apologized for the dinner, saying he needs to “preach and practice.”
“I want to apologize to you because I need to preach and practice, not just preach and not practice, and I’ve done my best to do that,” Newsom said. “We’re all human. We all fall short sometimes.”
Newsom was also lambasted last week by Republicans in the state after prosecutors revealed they found death row inmates and other prisoners received coronavirus unemployment benefits in a massive scam.
“Too many California families still wait. But prisoners got $140M in unemployment checks. Newsom issues statement listing failed steps. But any real action is absent. After French Laundry fiasco, THIS?” 2018 California gubernatorial candidate John Cox tweeted. “We’re through and he’s done.”
Too many California families still wait. But prisoners got $140M in unemployment checks.
Newsom issues statement listing failed steps. But any real action is absent.
After French Laundry fiasco, THIS?
We’re through and he’s done. #TimeToResignhttps://t.co/m4ns0nRtdH— JohnHCox (@TheRealJohnHCox) November 25, 2020
