The rise of Vice President Kamala Harris -- seemingly overnight -- to the top of the Democratic Party ticket has been the subject of a fair amount of criticism from Republicans, but last week, a high-powered figure on the left also appeared to admit that the process itself was problematic.

As Breibart reports, California Gov. Gavin Newsom seemed to adopt a sarcastic -- and somewhat incredulous -- tone while attempting to convince voters that the manner in which Harris became the party's standard-bearer was totally on the level.

“Told to say”

During an appearance on the liberal-leaning Pod Save America, Newsom was seemingly at pains to reconcile the events that led to Harris' coronation, one which arguably upended the primary process through which the party had already traveled and negated the roughly 14 million votes that were cast for President Joe Biden.

Once the president determined -- reportedly amid great internal pressure -- that he would abandon his re-election campaign, Democratic Party elites swiftly coalesced around Harris, essentially handing her the baton without subjecting her to any sort of competition from other potential contenders.

Speaking to the podcast hosts on Friday, Newsom was clearly straining to do some explaining, stating of Harris' anointing, “We went through a very open process, a very inclusive process. It was bottom-up, I don't know if you know that.”

He then added what sounded to many like a pointed critique of his colleagues, admitting, “That's what I've been told to say.”

Pundits, voters weigh in

It did not take long for journalists to respond to what was clearly a half-hearted endorsement of the method through which Harris was handed the reins, with Glenn Greenwald taking particular exception.

“The Party of Democracy sits around guffawing at how anti-democratic and vote-free and secret was their process for choosing and then imposing the new Democratic presidential nominee on the country,” Greenwald said.

Another detractor on X echoed those sentiments, writing, Gavin Newsom knows the Harris nomination was a top-down coup, and they're all cynical about it. Is this the 'democracy' they want to save?”

The critic continued by observing, “What a sick joke on their own supporters and this country.”

Trump, Pirro let loose

Joining the chorus of those blasting what has been described as a phony nomination process was none other than former President Donald Trump, who took to Truth Social to express doubts about the very legitimacy of Harris' candidacy.

“Kamala Harris is the Weakest Presidential Candidate in History on Crime. She's allowed millions of people to pour through our Borders, many from prisons, mental institutions and, indeed, terrorists, coming in at levels never seen before,” he wrote.

Trump did not stop there, adding, “What gives her the right to run for President? She got no votes to Biden's 14 Million. She failed in her previous attempt, was the first one out of 22 people to quit, never made it to Iowa, and now she's a Presidential Candidate? This is a Threat to Democracy!”

Fox News personality Jeanine Pirro concurred, writing on X, “Kamala Harris is the first bait-and-switch candidate we've ever had run for president!” expressing with gusto an opinion with which millions of Americans – perhaps even Gavin Newsom – would surely have to agree.