Gavin Newsom is explicitly connecting Donald Trump’s alleged third-term ambitions to his previous attempts to cling to power after the 2020 election. The governor argues that the January 6th attack on the Capitol was not a one-time event, but part of a pattern of disregarding democratic processes that continues with talk of a third term.
Newsom has repeatedly warned that Trump would attempt to hold onto power, as he did in 2020 with his baseless claims of election fraud. The governor’s revelation about the Oval Office conversation is presented as “a new data point” in this ongoing case against Trump.
For Newsom, the logic is simple: a leader who tried to overturn a legitimate election he lost would have no qualms about trying to defy a constitutional amendment to extend his rule if he won. Both actions stem from the same core belief that he is entitled to power, regardless of the rules or the will of the voters.
By linking the third-term talk directly to January 6th, Newsom is framing it not as a future political debate, but as the continuation of a past constitutional crisis. He is warning that the forces that led to the attack on the Capitol are still at play and have simply found a new potential outlet.