Newsom on ‘limited scope’ of Israel trip: ‘I wish I was president of the United States’

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) joked about his presidential ambitions following a wartime trip to Israel, explaining the limits of his visit.

“I wish I was president of the United States,” he told reporters when asked about meeting with Israeli leaders, particularly to discuss a potential ceasefire with Hamas. He added afterward that he was joking. “I could start doing all those things.”

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According to Newsom, the brief and impromptu trip to Israel was “limited in scope.”

Last week, after announcing the surprise trip Thursday, the California governor landed in the Middle Eastern country on Friday to visit victims of the war’s violence. Specifically, he made a trip to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and met with injured civilians.

Newsom described meeting with California citizens and their families while at the medical center. “I listened to the grief and terror in a mother’s voice as she spoke about her son — a Californian right now being held hostage in Gaza — whose arm was blown off by a terrorist’s grenade,” he recalled in a statement. “I hugged a girl — another Californian, born in Los Angeles — who was shot in the leg by Hamas and left for dead, in truly horrific conditions.”

According to his press office, “The State of California is working to ship medical supplies to support humanitarian relief efforts in Israel and Gaza.”

Newsom is the second governor to travel to Israel amid the war with Iran-backed terrorist group Hamas, following Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY). New York has the largest population of Jewish people in America, as well as the largest population outside of Israel itself. California has the second-largest population in the U.S.

The California governor has answered as to whether he supports a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, something growing in popularity among the most progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Newsom, though, has reiterated that he “stands with Israel.”

His joking remark about being president comes as speculation continues over a potential 2024 presidential bid. Newsom has consistently rejected the notion that he is considering a primary challenge to President Joe Biden, even serving as one of the most high-profile surrogates for his reelection campaign.

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However, the California Democrat continues to fuel talk of such a campaign by wading into national issues, traveling to states across the country to counter Republican rivals, and even participating in a debate against a current Republican presidential candidate, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), which will take place next month.

DeSantis is even previewing the debate to supporters by claiming that the Democratic Party may look to run Newsom or Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 at the last minute.