'Become relevant again': Newsom trolls Bed, Bath & Beyond with brutal post after snub

A business executive trying to resurrect a classic retail brand proclaimed Wednesday that they would not open any brick-and-mortar retail stores in California — and Gov. Gavin Newsom hit back with a snappy retort.

Marcus Lemonis, a businessman and philanthropist who has hosted the CNBC show "The Profit," is in the process of creating a physical retail presence for Bed, Bath & Beyond. The original home goods retail chain bearing that name, after struggling for years to compete with Amazon, filed for bankruptcy and liquidated in 2023. Overstock.com proceeded to buy the intellectual property, create a web-only version of the store, then take an ownership stake in another chain of home goods retailers, which has opened a physical Bed, Bath & Beyond location in Nashville with plans to expand or convert more locations.

Lemonis, in an announcement this week, went out of his way to say this new company wouldn't operate in the Golden State, proclaiming on X, "This isn’t about politics — it’s about reality. California’s system makes it nearly impossible for businesses to succeed, and I won’t put our company, our employees, or our customers in that position."

Newsom's official press account, however, took this as a political jab — and responded in kind.

"Like most Americans, we thought Bed, Bath & Beyond no longer existed — after their bankruptcy & closure of every store," wrote the account, replying to the far-right influencer account "LibsOfTikTok" promoting the announcement. "We wish them well as they seek to become relevant again as they try to open a 2nd store."

Newsom's account has been on a relentless trolling spree against President Donald Trump, mockingly copying his syntax and mannerisms. The governor, who has sparked rumors of presidential ambitions for 2028, is also in the middle of unveiling a redistricting proposal to draw out Republicans in retaliation for the similar plan from the Texas GOP to rig lines against Democrats.