Hold onto your hats, folks—California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s press office just stepped into a firestorm with a social media post that’s got everyone from conservatives to moderates raising eyebrows, Breitbart reported. 

On Saturday, the official account posted a cryptic jab at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, prompting accusations of veiled threats and even a Secret Service referral. This isn’t just a digital slip-up; it’s a lightning rod in an already charged political climate.

At the heart of the controversy is a post from Newsom’s team on X stating, “Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today,” a message that landed like a grenade just days after the tragic assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

Let’s rewind to the horrific event that set the stage: Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in the neck on September 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University. The shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, reportedly held views starkly opposed to Kirk’s conservative stance, with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox noting Robinson’s differing ideology from his family. Additional reports pointed to Robinson’s troubling online behavior, including ties to disturbing content, painting a complex and unsettling picture.

Tragic Loss of Charlie Kirk Shocks Nation

The nation mourned Kirk’s loss, with prominent figures like former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance expressing their grief. Trump even announced plans to posthumously honor Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a testament to his impact on conservative activism. It’s a somber backdrop that makes Newsom’s team’s flippant post all the more jarring.

Enter the now-infamous X post from Newsom’s press office, which didn’t just raise eyebrows—it set off alarms across the political spectrum. The timing couldn’t be worse, coming on the heels of Kirk’s assassination and during a memorial weekend dedicated to his memory. As White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung put it, this was “beyond the pale and totally disgusting.”

Critics didn’t hold back, and for good reason—rhetoric matters, especially now. Daily Wire host Matt Walsh noted that similar ominous language had circulated online about Kirk before his death, a chilling parallel. It’s hard not to wonder if Newsom’s team missed the memo on tone and timing, or if they just didn’t care.

Secret Service Referral Sparks Serious Concerns

The backlash was swift and bipartisan, with Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli taking the extraordinary step of referring the post to the Secret Service for a threat assessment. Essayli’s stance was clear: “We have zero tolerance for direct or implicit threats against government officials.” This isn’t just political theater; it’s a reminder that words can carry real-world consequences.

Others piled on, with DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin calling the post something that “reads like a threat.” She didn’t mince words, accusing Newsom’s team of hiding behind screens while lacking the courage for face-to-face accountability. It’s a sharp critique, and one that resonates when public trust is already fraying.

Even Republican candidate for Ohio governor Vivek Ramaswamy urged Newsom to rise above the fray, saying, “This isn’t what America needs right now.” White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson questioned the post’s intent, asking what it was even supposed to mean. These aren’t just partisan jabs; they reflect a broader unease about where political discourse is headed.

Newsom’s History of Inflammatory Rhetoric Resurfaces

Adding fuel to the fire, Newsom’s press office doubled down three hours later, quoting their own post and linking it to a press release about new legislation targeting immigrant protections and Trump accountability. If they thought this would smooth things over, they miscalculated badly. Turns out, doubling down on a bad take doesn’t make it better; it just digs the hole deeper.

Newsom’s track record doesn’t help his case, with past fiery comments like vowing to “punch these sons of bitches in the mouth” and promoting divisive memes resurfacing. Actress Justine Bateman warned that such language from leaders can incite real violence, a sobering point in light of recent events. When will politicians learn that their words aren’t just soundbites—they’re sparks near a powder keg?

Advocate Chloe Cole didn’t hold back either, labeling Newsom’s behavior as displaying “psychopathic” tendencies given the timing so soon after Kirk’s assassination. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino called the rhetoric a “dark path,” urging voters to take note. It’s a call to accountability that cuts through the noise of partisan spin.

Political Violence and Rhetoric Under Scrutiny

Entrepreneur Siraj Hashmi highlighted the stark contrast in timing, pointing out that Newsom’s condemnation of Kirk’s killing came a full 10 days before this ill-advised post. That gap raises questions about sincerity—or at least about who’s running the governor’s social media strategy. A little consistency could go a long way here.

Even Newsom’s own actions, like renaming a campaign event originally dubbed with a provocative acronym after Kirk’s death, suggest an awareness of optics—if not a genuine shift in approach. But when the follow-up is a post that smells like a threat to many, it’s hard to give the benefit of the doubt. Actions speak louder than rebrands, Governor.

At the end of the day, this incident isn’t just about a poorly worded tweet—it’s about a political culture teetering on the edge. With Kirk’s assassination still fresh, every word from a public official carries weight, and Newsom’s team seems to have forgotten that. Let’s hope this serves as a wake-up call before more damage is done, because America deserves better than cheap shots and dangerous undertones.