Actor Halle Berry publicly criticised California governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday, accusing him of overlooking women’s health and arguing he should not be considered a future presidential candidate. Speaking at the DealBook Summit, Berry said Newsom’s repeated vetoes of a menopause care bill reflected a broader disregard for women.“At this stage in my life, I have zero f–ks left to give,” Berry said, before targeting the governor, according to the Hollywood Reporter. She added, “Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one, but two years in a row … he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.”
Her comments, delivered just hours before Newsom appeared at the same event, reportedly drew gasps from the audience at Lincoln Center. Newsom, whose second term ends in 2026, has said he is considering a 2028 presidential run and often features in early Democratic primary polling alongside Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg.Berry, 59, has been advocating for expanded menopause care through her health company Respin. She criticised what she described as the cultural and institutional devaluation of older women. “In 2025 I, Halle Berry, and women of my age are simply devalued in this country,” she said, arguing that women in midlife face pressure “to stay forever 35.”Newsom vetoed the menopause care bill in October for the second consecutive year. The legislation aimed to require healthcare plans to provide recommendations for menopause treatment and mandate training for providers. Responding to Berry’s remarks, Newsom spokesperson Izzy Gardon told The New York Post that the governor supported the issue but rejected the bill because it would have increased healthcare costs.“The Governor has deep admiration for Ms Berry’s advocacy … He vetoed the bill because, as written, it would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women,” Gardon said, adding that the administration hoped to expand access to menopause care while “protecting women from higher bills.”
