'Bad for Trump': Conservative columnist warns Newsom probe will backfire spectacularly

President Donald Trump's attack on Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, could have unexpected repercussions, a CNN conservative columnist said on Monday.

S.E. Cupp described how Trump's move could backfire on the Republican Party ahead of the 2028 presidential election. And for Newsom, who has considered running, the investigation could ultimately work in the top Democrat's favor.

"This is exactly what Gavin Newsom wants," Cupp said. "It's why he got dressed up, put on a tie and stood behind the seal of the state of California, and posted this very dramatic press conference because he wants to be Trump's main foil. That is good for business. And what Trump doesn't seem to realize yet is it's bad for Trump."

Shelby Talcott, Semafor's White House correspondent, wrote in a post on X that the investigation could be part of a number of probes.

"New: A source familiar with the situation tells me that there are 'several investigations' ongoing relating to Gov. Gavin Newsom — I’m told they are focused on his wife’s taxes + his chief of staff," Talcott wrote. "They did not originate from the main DOJ, but are out of Sacramento and involve whistleblowers, per source. DOJ is declining to comment."

Cupp pointed to previous polling and how Trump's influence has weighed in on other major Democratic campaigns.

"I'll remind people that James Talarico was polling double digits behind Jasmine Crockett in Texas before Trump pointed at him and said, 'that interview you did with Stephen Colbert, that's a big problem, and I'm coming for you,'" Cupp said.

That backfired for Trump and Republicans. And it's not the only time it's happened.

"Well, that was great for James Talarico and for business," Cupp said. "Same [with] Mark Kelly when Trump pointed at Mark Kelly and attacked him for that video where he was encouraging servicemen and women not to follow illegal orders. Well, Mark Kelly just became a presidential nominee because of that. So he has a habit of making these guys, turning them into resistance heroes. And Gavin Newsom has been reaping the benefits of that, and I'm sure is looking forward to this fight."