Gavin Newsom Jokes He’ll Legalize Marijuana As ‘Leader Of The Free World’ And Get People ‘High On Patriotism’ Amid Federal Shutdown

Keeping with his recent parody of President Donald Trump’s social media style, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said on Wednesday that he’s assuming the role of “leader of the free world” in light of the federal government shutdown—and part of his platform will be to legalize marijuana.

People will be “high on patriotism,” he said in a post on X.

As Congress continues to struggle to reach an agreement on government funding legislation, Newsom took another opportunity to poke fun at the president, whom he’s routinely goaded with social media posts mimicking Trump’s rhetoric over recent weeks.

“GOOD NEWS PATRIOTS! WITH WASHINGTON SHUT DOWN, I, GAVIN C. NEWSOM, AM NOW THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD,” the governor said, while listing legislative priorities that include universal health care, employment opportunities, free eggs, hair gel subsidies and a plan to “LEGALIZE CANNABIS!”

“CRIME WILL STAY LOW AND EVERYONE WILL BE HIGH ON PATRIOTISM,” Newsom said on his X account, parroting Trump’s use of all-caps social media posts. “AND NO MORE TICKETMASTER FEES (FOR THE SWIFTIES, FEES STAY FOR KID ROCK!) THEY WILL CHANT USA! USA! BECAUSE WE WILL BE BACK AND “HOTTER” THAN EVER BEFORE. THANK YOU!”

GOOD NEWS PATRIOTS! WITH WASHINGTON SHUT DOWN, I, GAVIN C. NEWSOM, AM NOW THE LEADER OF THE FREE WORLD. MY PLATFORM IS VERY SIMPLE: HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS (NO MEASLES!), FREE SCHOOL MEALS (WOW PUDDING FOR EVERYONE), FREE CHILDCARE (THE MOMS LOVE ME! MORE BABIES!!)…

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) October 1, 2025

Newsom was one of the first high-profile politicians to endorse legalization years before voters in his state moved forward with the reform. Of course, the post on Wednesday isn’t meant to be taken seriously. Rather, it’s meant to replicate Trump’s boastful social media strategy.

The post came on the same day that a California law the governor approved took effect that delays a tax hike on marijuana sales for three years.

With respect to the president, Trump said in late August that he would soon be making a decision on a proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). He previously endorsed the reform on the campaign trail, but he was less clear in recent comments about where he stands on the policy proposal.

Rescheduling would not legalize marijuana, however, as the California governor jokingly said he would accomplish as “leader of the free world.”

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While a decision on rescheduling remains pending, Trump did share a post on social media over the weekend that touted the health benefits of hemp-derived CBD, particular for seniors.

One of Trump’s longtime advisors, Roger Stone, subsequently said that his administration has an opportunity to move forward with marijuana rescheduling—or, even broader legalization—in a way that Democrats who regularly tout the reform failed to achieve when they controlled the White House and Congress.

Meanwhile, the Republican Senate sponsor of a bipartisan cannabis banking bill said recently that Trump rescheduling marijuana would be an “important domino” to advance his legislation.

Image element courtesy of Gage Skidmore.