Governor Gavin Newsom got some attention for his sitting style after conservative media made a big deal about how he was positioned during a meeting at the New York Times Dealbook Summit.
During his chat with New York Times writer Andrew Sorkin, Newsom, who is 58, sat with his legs crossed and his ankle bent so it was even with the stage.
This photo went viral on social media, where some conservative posters joked that Newsom was “crushing his testicles.”
It then made it to a FOX News segment, where Republican strategist Katie Zachariah said, “That is such a pathetic pose. I do not see boss men, especially not President Trump, sit like that.”
To respond to the criticism, Newsom’s office posted a modified photo of him with his feet together and his hands clasped in prayer between his legs.
The post included the caption, “Democracy requires flexibility.”
Newsom was at the Dealbook Summit to talk about the Trump administration’s energy and technology policies and to put forward a moderate, inclusive plan for Democrats.
He said, “We have to be more culturally normal.
We have to be a little less judgmental. We have to be a party that understands the importance and power of the border.”
Newsom was likely happy to address more silly comments about his appearance at the event.
Two speakers before him, actress Halle Berry, 59, criticized the governor for vetoing the Menopause Care Equity Act in California, which aims to improve insurance coverage for menopause-related care.
“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,” Berry said.
“The way [Gavin Newsom] has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either.
Just saying,” she said.
This moment was a strong example of left-wing criticism of Newsom as he increased his presidential visibility by frequently attacking Trump and passing Prop 50, which gave California five more congressional seats in response to Texas drawing an unfair map ahead of the 2026 midterms.
On Wednesday, Newsom told a TMZ reporter he had spoken to Berry’s manager and said he was “reconciling this.”
A spokesperson for Newsom told Newsweek that he “vetoed the bill because, as written, it would have unintentionally raised healthcare costs for millions of working women and working families already stretched thin—something he’s determined to avoid.”
“We’re confident that by working together this year, we can expand access to essential menopause treatment while protecting women from higher bills,” the statement added.
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