When you’re at the helm of one of the world’s largest economies, you might find it challenging to keep track of your vacation snapshots.
On Tuesday, the official account of Governor Newsom’s Press Office attempted to respond to a social media critic on platform X. In the process, they inadvertently highlighted Nevada.
Newsom had shared a video featuring his discussion with podcaster Shawn Ryan, wherein he defended and at times minimized his gun control record.
FACT: States with the most comprehensive gun safety laws have lower gun death rates.
Basic gun safety saves lives. pic.twitter.com/L7QErpIPe1
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 15, 2025
Warning: The following social media post contains language that might offend some readers.
A user named “One Bad Dude” replied, “FACT: Democrat-run states are sh**holes.”
FACT: Democrat run states are shtholes
— One Bad Dude (@OneBadDude_) July 15, 2025
Instead of addressing this critique with data or thoughtful analysis, the Newsom Press Office responded with a series of picturesque photos accompanied by the caption: “sh**hole.”
“shithole” https://t.co/dFLwXhWbKB pic.twitter.com/eztChybtrU
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) July 15, 2025
Because when all else fails, why not just resort to a simple retort and share some pretty landscapes?
However, there’s a catch: one of the images—specifically the one in the lower left corner—wasn’t even captured in California. It was taken at Sand Harbor, the main beach of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.
Yes, Nevada. As in, not California.
To be fair, Lake Tahoe does sit on the state line, but Sand Harbor is entirely located within Nevada’s borders.
So, if you’re keeping track, Newsom’s team attempted to counter the claim that California is a “sh**hole” by promoting a different state altogether.
This is the same governor who has served for nearly six years. (I personally witnessed open-air drug use in a large homeless encampment in Los Angeles just months ago during broad daylight on a Tuesday.)
In any case, who shares state tourism photos without verifying their origins?
For anyone contemplating a visit to Nevada’s Sand Harbor, one travel blog extols its virtues, citing paddleboard, kayak, and jet ski rentals, as well as picturesque picnic spots shaded by Jeffrey pine and cedar trees. You might even catch a performance of Shakespeare under the stars.
Sounds delightful. And once again, it’s not in California.
Ultimately, no one can dispute California’s stunning natural beauty. However, it’s the governance that raises eyebrows.
And apparently, even Newsom’s social media team struggles to defend that without resorting to the allure of a neighboring state.
Perhaps next time, Newsom’s office should focus less on petty social media skirmishes and more on addressing California’s myriad issues—or at the very least, consult a map.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
