California Governor Gavin Newsom is taking aim at Donald Trump’s growing crypto empire with satire of his own. In a podcast appearance this week, Newsom said he plans to launch a memecoin called “Trump Corruption Coin,” a project meant less for profit than for parody.
“We’re about to put a meme coin out,” Newsom said on Kara Swisher’s Pivot podcast. “And you know what, Donald Trump? We’ll see how well your coin does versus our coin.” When pressed if the token might carry his own name, the governor clarified: “No, it’s Trump Corruption Coin.” He added that the project is part of his broader Campaign for Democracy initiative, with proceeds earmarked for redistricting and voter outreach.
Newsom framed the effort as both political theater and a critique of Trump’s ventures in digital assets. “We’re just trying to turn up the heat and tune people into the absurdity,” he said. “This is one of the great grifters of our time. None of this is normal.”
Trump, by contrast, has leaned heavily into crypto as part of his brand. In June, he disclosed earning $57.4 million from his stake in World Liberty Financial, reporting 15.75 billion WLFI tokens in his 2025 financial disclosure. His company, Trump Media and Technology Group, claims to hold more than $2 billion in Bitcoin and other digital assets. A New Yorker report this month estimated that Trump has pulled in $2.4 billion from crypto-linked ventures since 2022, now representing nearly half his political-era fortune.
The ex-president has also used crypto for optics, hosting private dinners with token buyers and promoting Trump-themed NFTs. His moves have sparked criticism over conflicts of interest, given his policy role and business entanglements.
Newsom has turned his critique into performance. In recent days, his press office has issued tongue-in-cheek, Trump-style all-caps posts on X, one reading: “EXCEPT WHAT IS WRITTEN AND BROADCAST IN THE FAKE NEWS, I NOW HAVE THE HIGHEST POLL NUMBERS I’VE EVER HAD, SOME IN THE 60’S AND EVEN 70’S. THANK YOU. MAKE AMERICA GAVIN AGAIN!!! — GCN.”
He’s even selling parody merchandise, including red MAGA-style hats rebranded with the slogan: “NEWSOM WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING!”
