Amid Mideast Peace, Gavin Newsom Acts Like a Child

President Donald Trump continues to exhibit unparalleled support for American Jews, Israelis and the Holy Land. Yet today, amid the historic signing of a multi-national peace agreement in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to end the war in Gaza and facilitate the return of final 20 hostages to Israel, California’s petulant governor Gavin Newsom throws another of his childish tantrums. Trump was on the world stage, successful and credible, and Newsom couldn’t handle it.

Trump stands as a towering figure in the history of U.S. support for American Jews and the State of Israel. His policies, during his first term (2017–2021) culminating in the Abraham Accords coupled with his current term beginning in January of this year, reflect an unwavering commitment to safeguarding America’s Jewish communities and bolstering Israel’s security and international standing. From actions directed at protection of Jewish students against campus antisemitism to providing military and diplomatic support during the 2025 Israel-Iran conflict, Trump redefined American leadership in these areas. His legacy, including historic diplomatic breakthroughs, robust financial backing, and antisemitism sets him apart.

One of Donald Trump’s most commendable achievements is his resolute defense of Jewish students on American college campuses, where antisemitism has surged in recent years, particularly following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. Recognizing the hostile environment on campus, Trump has implemented policies to ensure students safety and dignity. His administration’s aggressive enforcement of the 2019 Executive Order on Combating Antisemitism, signed during his first term, has proven to be a game-changer. This order extended Title VI protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to Jewish students, incorporating the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism to address discrimination rooted in anti-Jewish prejudice. Now in his current term, Trump has elevated this framework, ensuring that universities are held accountable for failing to protect Jewish students or risk crushing financial penalties.

The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, under Trump’s leadership, has pursued rigorous investigations into institutions accused of tolerating —and effectively supporting— antisemitic harassment. A landmark achievement came this year when New Yorks’ Columbia University agreed to pay $221 million in fines following a probe into its inadequate response to antisemitic incidents. This financial penalty sent a powerful message: universities must prioritize the safety of Jewish students or face severe consequences. Trump’s commitment extends beyond investigations. He has boldly threatened to withhold federal funding and accreditation from colleges that permit “antisemitic propaganda,” a stance that has resonated deeply with Jewish advocacy groups like the American Jewish Committee. In March 2025, Trump began withholding funds from institutions deemed complicit in antisemitism, demonstrating his willingness to use executive power to protect Jewish students.

Further showcasing his decisive leadership, Trump has addressed the role of foreign students in campus unrest. In March 2025, he initiated deportations of international students who violated their visa terms by engaging in antisemitic or anti-Israel protests. This policy not only reinforces campus safety but also aligns with his broader commitment to law and order, ensuring that those who threaten Jewish students face tangible repercussions. These actions have worked to quell Jewish students anxieties, giving them confidence that their government stands firmly behind them. By prioritizing their safety and leveraging federal authority, Trump has created a safer academic environment, earning widespread praise from Jewish communities who see his policies as a vital shield against rising hatred. The President additionally threatened to cut funding if California’s universities didn’t adopt specific policy changes regarding admissions, faculty hiring, free speech, and gender identity policies here in this state.

In response, Gavin Newsom condemned Trump’s actions. In an on-camera interview, he claims “Trump only cares about the “red” states. He’s a wartime president, head of a war party: the war or women, war on voting rights, war on hispanics, war on California.”

Reality shows (and we know) the opposite is true: Newsom put Californians directly in harm’s way, with great risk and danger.

President Trump’s support for Israel is nothing short of historic, marked by bold decisions that have strengthened the Jewish state’s security, sovereignty, and global standing. His first term laid a foundation of unparalleled achievements, and his current term has further solidified his role as Israel’s staunchest ally, particularly during the critical Israel-Iran conflict of June 2025. Trump’s actions reflect a deep understanding of Israel’s strategic needs and a commitment to ensuring its survival and prosperity in a volatile region.

During his first term, Trump delivered transformative victories for Israel. In 2017, he recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocated the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, fulfilling a promise that previous presidents had avoided due to diplomatic sensitivities. This embassy move affirmed Israel’s historical and cultural claim to its capital, earning Trump immense gratitude from Israelis and pro-Israel Americans. In 2019, he recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a strategic region critical to Israel’s defense, further cementing U.S. support for Israel’s territorial integrity. Perhaps most significantly, Trump brokered the Abraham Accords in 2020, facilitating normalization agreements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. These accords reshaped Middle East diplomacy, creating a coalition of Arab states aligned with Israel without requiring concessions on the Palestinian issue—a diplomatic masterstroke that expanded Israel’s regional influence.

In his current term, Trump has taken his support for Israel to new heights, particularly in response to the June 2025 Iran attacks. When Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13, targeting military leaders and infrastructure, Trump swiftly aligned the United States with Israel’s objectives. On June 22, he authorized U.S. military strikes, delivering a powerful blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The operation, which followed Israel’s initial strikes, demonstrated a seamless U.S.-Israel partnership.

Trump’s leadership during the crisis extended beyond U.S. military action. On June 23, 2025, he announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran in their 12-day war. His diplomatic intervention, coupled with public calls for restraint—such as his urging Israel to avoid further strikes—helped stabilize the region, allowing schools to reopen in Israel and residents to return to Tehran. Trump’s ability to balance military strength with diplomatic pragmatism ensured that Israel’s gains were preserved while preventing a broader regional war.

Financially, Trump has ensured Israel’s military dominance through unwavering support. He has continued the $3.8 billion annual aid package established under the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, supplemented by an additional $14.3 billion in emergency military aid passed in March 2025. This funding has enabled Israel to acquire advanced weaponry, which proved critical in defending against Iran’s barrage of over 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones in June 2025.

Newsom doesn’t care. Instead, he uses social media and public statements to mock or challenge the president. He rarely if ever credits Trump for the above successes. Instead, his rhetoric frames Trump’s efforts as cynical ploys for mere political gain, ignoring their substantive protections for Jewish communities and Israel. This selective omission aligns with broader Democratic Party critiques of Trump while downplaying actual policy wins. In a 2024 open letter to Muslim/Arab communities, Newsom condemned Trump’s 2017 “Muslim Ban” as hateful and instead supported Biden’s ceasefire push—implicitly contrasting it with Trump’s “deal-making” style, without acknowledging the Accords’ role in Arab-Israeli normalization.

Newsom’s October 2025 signing of anti-hate bills emphasized “confronting hate in all its forms” but he criticized Trump’s approach as using antisemitism as an “excuse” to silence protesters and erode democracy. He positioned California as the “national model” for Jewish safety. In a 2024 statement marking the October 7 anniversary, Newsom stood “beside… Israel” but tied it to California state actions, not federal precedents set by Trump.

When Gavin Newsom does it, it’s good, wholesome and credible (according to him). Trump’s successes, though, are seen through a lens of “authoritarianism.” Yes, Newsom acts like a petulant child.