“You loved all the oligarchs”: Bannon calls out Gavin Newsom’s past support for Elon Musk

California – California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leading figure in the Democratic Party, took an unexpected step this week by hosting Steve Bannon, a key strategist behind the MAGA movement, on his new political podcast. The hourlong conversation, which was both lively and occasionally contentious, revealed areas of surprising agreement between the two men, particularly on economic issues and skepticism toward corporate elites.

The episode, part of This Is Gavin Newsom, is the latest in the governor’s efforts to engage with conservative voices. Newsom, who has been experimenting with different media formats in his final years as governor, previously launched Politickin’—a celebrity-driven podcast with former NFL player Marshawn Lynch—before shifting focus to political discussions. His recent interviews have featured right-wing figures, including Charlie Kirk and Michael Savage, a move that has raised eyebrows among some Democratic allies.

Despite their ideological differences, Newsom and Bannon found common ground on certain economic policies. Both expressed disapproval of tax breaks for wealthy individuals and corporations, particularly when those funds are used for stock buybacks rather than economic growth.

“The upper bracket shouldn’t get it, and even some of the corporations shouldn’t get it if they’re just going to do stock buybacks,” Bannon said.

Newsom, seizing the moment, quipped: “Tell your president that, Steve.”

Bannon also attempted to recruit Newsom into what he called his “economic populist” movement, praising Democratic figures such as Rep. Ro Khanna and Sen. John Fetterman for their critiques of corporate power. He argued that Democrats should align with Trump supporters to take on what he described as an unchecked oligarchy.

“If we’re ever to get control of the oligarchs, you, as governor and as, quite frankly, the leader of that wing of the party, have got to work with us to say, ‘Hey, this can’t go on any longer,’” Bannon said.

One of the most striking moments came when Newsom acknowledged California’s role in helping Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, rise to prominence. Bannon, who has previously called Musk a “parasitic illegal immigrant,” criticized Newsom’s past support for the billionaire.

“You loved all the oligarchs, in particular Elon, until they flipped,” Bannon said.

Newsom, in response, admitted, “By the way, in many respects, California did. It was our regulatory process and our subsidies to create this market. You’re 100 percent right.”

The conversation steered away from more divisive culture war issues, a departure from Newsom’s previous podcast episode, where he told Charlie Kirk he believed it was “deeply unfair” for transgender athletes to compete in female sports. However, Newsom’s decision not to challenge Bannon on his false claims about the 2020 election stood out.

At one point, Bannon referred to Sen. Elizabeth Warren as “Pocahontas,” prompting Newsom to correct him with a simple, “Senator Warren.” Unfazed, Bannon repeated the nickname.

Unlike traditional media interviews, Newsom did not engage in fact-checking, instead allowing Bannon to present his views largely unchallenged.

Newsom’s podcasting venture appears to be part of a broader strategy to reach conservative audiences. With speculation growing about his potential 2028 presidential ambitions, his willingness to engage with figures like Bannon suggests an effort to demonstrate an ability to engage across party lines.

Newsom has long been fascinated by the conservative media landscape and has previously noted that Republicans have outperformed Democrats in messaging. His approach contrasts with that of other Democratic leaders, who often avoid direct engagement with right-wing figures.

His conversation with Bannon, while highlighting their differences, also demonstrated an attempt to bridge some gaps—whether as a genuine exercise in debate or a strategic move remains to be seen.