Governor Gavin Newsom "Vax for the Win" lottery drawing. (Photo: gov.ca.gov)
Gavin Newsom Has COVID ‘Regrets’: Here is His Long List of COVID Tyranny
Gavin Newsom only expresses regret when his past actions and authoritarian decisions get in the way of his ambitious future
By Katy Grimes, September 18, 2026 8:18 am
California Governor Gavin Newsom joined Jake Tapper for his “Out of Office” show, filmed while the two stood in the Bitterroot River on Newsom’s in-laws’ ranch in Montana.
Newsom’s staged political theater stunt was timed to start his presidential rollout, including the claim he will step aside should Kamala Harris run. If you believe that I have a bridge to sell you.
Newsom expressed regrets that some of his Covid pandemic restrictions appear difficult to defend with the benefit of hindsight. “The idea that we closed beaches was insane in hindsight,” Newsom said.
Oh really? He now regrets closing beaches–after arresting lone surfers and people desperate for a walk?
He has regrets now, but not when he locked 40 million people down?
Gavin Newsom only expresses regret when his past actions and authoritarian decisions get in the way of his ambitious future.
Newsom was the first Governor in the country to declare a COVID emergency, installing himself as a virtual dictator by seizing this unilateral power, and completely ignoring the democratic process. In March of 2020, CA Gov. Gavin Newsom Ordered 40 million healthy Californians to shelter at home because of the Coronavirus.
During this period, Newsom signed COVID mandatory vaccine bills – SB 871 by Sen. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), forced vaccinations for school enrollment requiring all school-aged children up to age 17 to get the COVID-19 vaccine(s) to attend school and child care.
AB 1993 by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), mandated the COVID-19 vaccine to all employees, including independent contractors; employees and contractors who would be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccine to be able to work in California. Financial penalties were imposed on employers who failed to comply.
Newsom’s tyranny.
Newsom’s COVID State of Emergency order from March 2020 until the end of February 2023. He hung on to his emergency powers three years, consigning the state to a dictatorship.
Newsom imposed vaccine mandates for school children, days after opposing one for prison guards. He continued pushing vaccine mandates through December 2025, then announced yet another grand-sounding public-health initiative: PHNIX, the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange, Rita Barrett Rose reported at the Globe.
“It is being sold as innovation, modernization, and scientific leadership—California’s answer to what state officials claim is a federal retreat from “science. But PHNIX is not a neutral upgrade, and it is not reform. It is the next phase of a long-running project to institutionalize centralized medical control—powered by technology, data aggregation, and public-private funding—at a moment when much of the country is finally reassessing the failures of COVID-era public health.”
Regrets? Gavin Newsom has regrets? Then why he is still pushing the next phase of a long-running project to institutionalize centralized medical control?
Newsom shut down schools and forced remote learning, and we still haven’t recovered from the learning loss. “Obviously, the schools are taking too long,” Newsom said. “A lot of districts were open, but the big ones weren’t. LA refused, and I regret that.”
Newsom regrets not opening the big districts?
Whatever that means. Children sank into serious depression over loneliness, and many still suffer.
During his Covid lockdowns, Newsom signed AB 2098 by Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), which would have punished physicians and surgeons for “unprofessional conduct” for advocating for the potential benefits of early treatment with off-label drugs, or those who dare to ask questions about COVID vaccine safety – i.e. for “spreading Covid “misinformation.” A judge issued an injunction to halt implementation. Eventually, Newsom had to push a bill through the Legislature to officially overturn AB 1098. Epic fail, but Newsom never expressed regrets.
Regrets?
State Capitol staffers told the Globe in February 2022 that elected members of the Assembly and Senate were exempted from COVID vaccine mandates, but Capitol staffers were not, and in fact were required to receive a booster by March 1st, or be fired. No mainstream media reported on this.
Regrets?
Gov. Newsom’s French Laundry moment wasn’t confined to dining out. He also took multiple vacations out of the country while locking down Californians. In January 2022, he starred in “MaskGate” at the NFC Championship game in Los Angeles, despite his own face mask mandates.

Regrets?
During COVID, Gov. Newsom issued nine different reopening plans, moving the state’s goalposts again and again–offering hope, then crushing it.
How about Governor Gavin Newsom’s 58 COVID-related cxecutive orders from March 4, 2020 to November 2020 – running the state like a dictator, determined to never let a crisis go to waste.
Gov. Newsom rushed a $1 billion deal with China’s BYD for masks. The Chinese electric-bus maker suddenly entered the medical-mask business, and Newsom bought more than $1.5 billion worth.
As governor, Gavin Newsom has always prioritized style over substance – his style over your substance. And he has no regrets.
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Newsom needs to be hauled before a court and be held accountable for his many grievous crimes against humanity. He and his wretched soul have a lot to answer for.
Investigative journalism of the highest order. Gavin Newsom has a lot to be worried about, as this timely article demonstrates!
Children were proven not be susceptible to Covid-19, but Newsom shut down the schools. This guy is absolute dimwit.
If you want a decent life for you and your kids, stop voting for Democrats.
Gavin’s B.S. “regrets.” He is so full of it. As you all know! Who does he think he’s kidding?
This phony has some big surprises coming his way if he thinks this crap is working.
Is this an opening to sue for the billions of dollars individuals and businesses lost during his covid tyranny?
Let’ not forget the elderly, the sick and dying who were left to die alone in a hospital bed!
REGRETS! HUH!
Convenient, the so called regrets are only afforded when he is given hindsight and a t.v. camera to perform in front of. 🤯
What a crock! If only poor Gavin could turn back the clock, have a good ol’ redo!
How low can he go?
Lower, no doubt!
Again, this narcissistic lying thief CANNOT tell the truth. The truth is not in him. EVERYTHING, every word, every sentence, is a lie. Flat out lie. The more hand gestures he makes the bigger the lie. The guy is a total waste of a human being. So is his boy toy Bonta, and this clown Xavier Becerra is just a watered down version our dear leader. STOP VOTING for DEMOCRATS! If they say they are moderates, they are lying, there is no such thing as a moderate Democrat anymore. They are ALL radicals and communists…Every one of them!
TRUTH, Unjabbed.
If we want change we must vote change!
Becerra who handed children over to traffickers is more of the same.Please remember Javier Becerra was the Health and Human Services Secretary during the Covid Era under Joe Biden. What a disgrace! He does not seem to be vocalizing so called, “regrets”.
Javier Bockhorrhea