--- description: "Many people are saying this is the greatest merchandise ever made," Newsom mocked as he promoted his "Trump is not hot" items online. title: Newsom Escalates Trump-Trolling With 'Real Patriot' Merch image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf095fff0b22668ed/6998c94d47fe51a54555c036/GettyImages-2195138698.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Donald Trump](/tag/donald-trump/) ## Donald Trump Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Newsom Promotes His 'Real Patriot' Alternative to MAGA Merchandise as Trump-Trolling Escalates by [Callum Sutherland](/author/callum-sutherland/) ## Callum Sutherland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Updated: Jan 30, 2026 6:58 PM CUTPublished: Aug 26, 2025 12:34 PM CUT  California's Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. President Donald Trump are seen at Los Angeles International Airport in California on Jan. 24, 2025. California's Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. President Donald Trump are seen at Los Angeles International Airport in California on Jan. 24, 2025.Mandel Ngan—Getty Images by [Callum Sutherland](/author/callum-sutherland/) ## Callum Sutherland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Updated: Jan 30, 2026 6:58 PM CUTPublished: Aug 26, 2025 12:34 PM CUT California’s Gov. [Gavin Newsom](https://time.com/7293440/gavin-newsom-california-governor-career-president-trump-rivalry-ambition-history/ "undefined") has upped the ante in his feud with [President Donald Trump](https://time.com/7280106/trump-interview-100-days-2025/ "undefined") by feverishly promoting his “Real Patriot” alternative to MAGA merchandise. Seemingly mocking the Trump Store’s much-discussed products—such as the “Trump 2028” hats which have only fueled speculation that the [President might try to run for a third term](https://time.com/7282460/will-trump-seek-a-third-term-as-president-comments-plan-successor-talk/ "undefined")—[Newsom is selling](https://store.gavinnewsom.com/the-patriot-shop/ "undefined") hats that read “Real Patriot” and “Newsom was right about everything!” Other items include a tank top emblazoned with the statement “Trump is not hot” and a T-shirt depicting Newsom as the “Chosen One,” with Trump stalwarts Kid Rock, Tucker Carlson, and the recently-deceased [Hulk Hogan](https://time.com/7305419/hulk-hogan-terry-gene-bollea-wwe-wrestling-trump-maga-tributes/ "undefined") standing over the California leader. But perhaps the most tongue-in-cheek item of all is Newsom’s promotion of a now sold out $100 “Holy Bible,” with buyers informed that it’s “signed by Gavin Newsom, America’s Favorite Governor.” Trump famously launched his own "God Bless the USA" bible in 2024 and reportedly [made](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8nv5384rmo "undefined") hundreds of thousands of dollars from it. Trump’s bible reportedly includes the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the chorus to “God Bless The USA” by country music singer Lee Greenwood. Taking off Trump’s vernacular and fondness for making announcements via social media posts written in capital letters, Newsom [publicized](https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1959674599676989523 "undefined") on Saturday that “THE PATRIOT SHOP IS NOW OPEN!” He has since been avidly promoting the merchandise, which he has—again, seemingly in reference to Trump—referred to as “the greatest merchandise ever made.” Not long after the initial promotion, Newsom [said](https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1959776337998368770 "undefined") that the site had already sold over $100,000 of products. **Read More**: [_The Strangest Donald Trump Merchandise for Sale in 2016_](https://time.com/4409012/donald-trump-merchandise/ "undefined") Of his recent social media activity, which somewhat holds a mirror to the MAGA playbook, Newsom told reporters: “I hope it's a wake-up call to the President of the United States following his example. If you have issues with what I'm putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns about what he's putting out as President. To the extent it's gotten attention, I'm pleased.” Newsom went on to question “how have we allowed the normalization of his \[Trump's\] tweets, Truth Social posts over the course of the last many years to go without similar scrutiny and notice?” Newsom’s merchandise jab is the latest escalation in his high-stakes feud with Trump. Disagreements between the two stem back to Trump’s first term in office. Not long after assuming the position of Governor of California in early 2019, [Newsom notably accused](https://time.com/5527855/gavin-newsom-donald-trump-fear-mongering/ "undefined") Trump of “fear-mongering” regarding his language on immigration and the LGBTQ+ community. Since Trump returned to office, their disagreements have spilled out into the public forum once more, with the President often referring to the California leader by the derogatory nickname "Newscum." They [clashed](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113793724958051185 "undefined") over the L.A. fires in January, with Trump blaming Newsom for the severity of the blazes. Newsom hit back, with his spokesperson accusing the President of “playing politics” with the disaster. Months later, in June, Trump drew Newsom’s ire when he [deployed the National Guard to L.A.](https://time.com/7291978/los-angeles-immigration-protests-trump-national-guard-deployed-newsom-backlash/ "undefined") to quell protests related to immigration raids, despite California officials opposing the move. Newsom referred to the action as “purposefully inflammatory” and said Trump “wants to be bound by no law or Constitution, perpetuating a unified assault on American traditions.” **Read More**:[_Trump Sparks Backlash as National Guard Arrives in L.A. on His Orders to Quell Immigration Protests: ‘Purposefully Inflammatory’_](https://time.com/7291978/los-angeles-immigration-protests-trump-national-guard-deployed-newsom-backlash/ "undefined") The California leader [mounted a legal challenge](https://time.com/7292875/trump-marines-la-immigration-protests/ "undefined") against the Trump Administration and a battle ensued. Trump even [suggested](https://time.com/7292395/trump-newsom-arrest-la-protests-ice/ "undefined") that Newsom should be arrested over his handling of the unrest in L.A. More recently, Trump and Newsom have gone head-to-head over a redistricting row, after the California Governor [warned Trump](https://time.com/7309028/gavin-newsom-donald-trump-california-redistricting-texas-neutralize-democrats-republicans/ "undefined") that he would “fight fire with fire” in response to Texas Republicans proposing to redraw state district lines in early August. “It’s time to make another phone call to \[Texas Gov.\] Greg Abbott—this time instead of calling them and telling him you’re ‘entitled’ to five congressional seats, it’s time to tell him to stand down,” Newsom said in [a video posted](https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1954906739901702347 "undefined") via social media on Aug. 11. [Newsom later announced](https://time.com/7309795/california-election-rigging-response-texas-redistricting-trump-republicans-democrats-newsom/ "undefined") that he would officially be pursuing efforts to redraw California district lines to counter the actions of Texas Republicans, calling the move “Liberation Day” for the Golden State. Trump said on Monday that he intends to file a lawsuit in response to Newsom’s redistricting proposal. “I think I’m going to be filing a lawsuit pretty soon, and I think we’re going to be very successful in it,” [Trump told reporters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEdtsQsw16k&t=25s "undefined") in the Oval Office. In a defiant response, Newsom [said](https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1960006947085991975 "undefined") “bring it.” The war of words continued on Tuesday, with Trump telling media at the White House that Newsom is a “nice guy” but “incompetent.” ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7312256/gavin-newsom-merchandise-trump-maga-trolling-feud/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7312256/gavin-newsom-merchandise-trump-maga-trolling-feud/"},"headline":"Newsom Promotes His 'Real Patriot' Alternative to MAGA Merchandise as Trump-Trolling Escalates","datePublished":"2025-08-26T12:34:42.000Z","dateModified":"2026-01-30T18:58:52.000Z","description":"\"Many people are saying this is the greatest merchandise ever made,\" Newsom quipped as he promoted his \"Trump is not hot\" items online.","url":"https://time.com/7312256/gavin-newsom-merchandise-trump-maga-trolling-feud/","keywords":["Donald Trump","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf095fff0b22668ed/6998c94d47fe51a54555c036/GettyImages-2195138698.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Callum Sutherland","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/callum-sutherland/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltf095fff0b22668ed/6998c94d47fe51a54555c036/GettyImages-2195138698.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"US-POLITICS-TRUMP","caption":"US-POLITICS-TRUMP","creditText":"Mandel Ngan—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/donald-trump/","name":"Donald Trump"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7312256/gavin-newsom-merchandise-trump-maga-trolling-feud/","name":"Newsom Promotes His 'Real Patriot' Alternative to MAGA Merchandise as Trump-Trolling Escalates"}}]}] ```