White House Communications Director Steven Cheung took to social media Saturday evening to gush over President Donald Trump’s work ethic with remarks that quickly drew the attention of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose press office swiftly delivered a brutal response.
Aside from heading White House communications, Cheung is also Trump’s assistant, and noted that Saturday evening, Trump was "still in the Oval Office working,” and said it was “truly remarkable to witness” the president’s work ethic.
Newsom’s official press office account on X hit Cheung with a biting response.
“What's it like to be on your knees, piggy?” reads the post from Newsom’s press office.
Newsom is unique among prominent Democratic figures in that he’s weaponized Trump’s own communications tactics, which include harsh insults and self gloating. Examples include Newsom’s press office calling Trump’s Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller a “fascist cuck,” or his office alleging the governor “broke Donald Trump.”
Some Republicans have conceded that Newsom’s social media frenzy was starting to sting, including Trump’s former White House chief of staff Steve Bannon, who described Newsom as the “only person in the Democratic Party who is organizing a fight that they feel they can win.”what’s it like to be on your knees, piggy?
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 7, 2025