‘Need to wake up’: Newsom sounds ‘Code Red’ over Trump’s response to Charlie Kirk murder

California Governor Gavin Newsom led Democrats in a sharp attack on Donald Trump on Tuesday, nearly a week after the killing of Charlie Kirk, which had prompted calls to tone down political rhetoric.

Republicans had blamed Democrats’ harsh characterisations of the MAGA movement for creating an atmosphere that contributed to the conservative activist’s death.

But Newsom, making his first extended appearance since Kirk’s killing, showed no signs of backing down. He accused Trump and his allies of being a serious threat to democracy, framing his redistricting battle with Republicans as critical for the country’s future.

“It is not an overstatement. This is Code Red,” Newsom said during a livestream with Democratic leaders and influencers backing his redistricting ballot measure. “We all need to wake up to what’s going on.”

The online event featured figures from the progressive media world, including hosts of “Pod Save America” and “MediasTouch,” YouTuber Brian Taylor Cohen, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Senator Elizabeth Warren. It was run like a modern Telethon, urging viewers to donate to the Yes on 50 campaign, with Newsom appearing multiple times and drawing praise from the guests.

In recent months, Newsom has gained national attention for portraying himself as a combative voice for Democrats — mocking Trump while warning that he poses an existential threat to democracy. After Kirk’s death, Newsom struck a delicate balance. He had earlier drawn criticism within his party for hosting Kirk on his podcast, and after the activist’s death, he issued a statement praising Kirk’s “passion and commitment to debate.”

On Tuesday, Newsom raised concerns about former Trump officials such as Stephen Miller, responding to questions about Democrats embracing partisan gerrymandering.

“We can sit there and say, ‘Boy, people really should have stood up and taken this guy Stephen Miller a little bit more seriously when he called the Democratic Party a terrorist organization’ … Or we can recognize the moment we’re in, and we can meet that moment, and we can push back,” Newsom said.

A strategist close to Newsom said the threat of sweeping retribution by a future Trump administration convinced the governor that he must keep sounding the alarm.