Fox News host Sean Hannity melted down on X on Thursday, attacking his "old friend" and the governor of California, Gavin Newsom.
The outburst appears to have started when Newsom called Hannity out for purportedly hypocritical positions when it comes to supporting President Donald Trump.
Newsom named Hannity and colleague Laura Ingraham for their noticeably different coverage of Trump’s government purchase of Intel shares compared to their attacks on New York City Democratic Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
"It sickens me to the core," Newsom told Chris Cadelago on Politico Live." You know, all for one, all one for all, or whatever, I mean. Intel. I mean, this is a guy–. I love these guys. Hey, Sean Hannity! You watching? You’re so disgusted at – Laura? So sickened by Mamdani talking about socializing a bodega or something, or a grocery store."
He questioned where the outrage was after Trump "hire[d] Intel."
"You just socialize and nationalized Intel. You got your guy [Commerce Secretary] Howard Lutnick, the great Lutnick, who’s out there talking about nationalizing. People that do business in this country, the Pentagon. Lockheed."
Hannity responded to the callout by firing off a series of posts on X on Thursday.
"It’s so nice to hear from the do nothing part time Governor of California, my old friend Nutty Gavin Newsom. Governor Tweety-bird the podcaster what an honor. As long as we are talking again (kind of) I do have some questions for you," he began.
He began quizzin Newsom on his state's tax rate.
"[A]re you proud of the fact that your state has the highest income taxes in the nation? Are you proud of the fact your state has the highest sales taxes in the country? Are you proud of the fact your state has the highest gas taxes in the country? Now you only have the 6 th highest corporate taxes in the country is it your goal to do better and become the highest taxed state for corporations?"
Hannity then pivoted to California's "sanctuary state" status.
"I’m sure if you try you can do better!!!! As a 'sanctuary state' you spend billions of taxpayer dollars on services for people that did not respect our laws, borders and sovereignty, and in spite of all those taxes you impose on your citizens you are running tens of billions of dollars in budget deficits. Is this fair to the hard working people in your state? Please explain in detail."
The Fox News host didn't stop there, pivoting to crime from immigrants living in the country unlawfully.
"Why does your state refuse to keep statistics on illegal immigrant crime? I’m sure you must discuss this regularly on your podcast: things like murder, rape and other violent crimes. We just learned the illegal immigrant truck driver who killed 3 innocent people in my free state of Florida lived in your state and had commercial drivers licenses from Washington and California. Then we discovered he was not proficient at speaking English or reading road signs. What would you like to say to the families who lost innocent loved ones? I’m certain they would appreciate hearing from you."
Still not finished, Hannity turned to California's wildfire preparation.
"[A]re wildfires and Santa Ana winds in California things that happen regularly? Are they 'predictable events'? You put your state on lockdown during Covid (with the exception of you and your family of course) because you were 'following the science'. Why won’t you practice the 'science' of forestry and clear away a lot more brush and dead trees? You know kindling for those predictable wildfires? When the Pacific Palisades fires occurred, fire hydrants didn’t have water, and the local reservoir didn’t have water according to mainstream media reports. How is that possible? And why did you suggest that 'local officials' should be asked that question and not YOU? The 'Buck stops where in California' Nearly 13,000 homes burned to the ground, are you in any way responsible for the lack of water? I assume You do know brave firefighters use water to put out fires. And Governor Tweety Bird All these many months later and very few building permits have been issued for homeowners in the Pacific Palisades, why is that Governor Podcaster? Or do you prefer Governor Tweety Bird?"
Hannity concluded the tirade with a pledge to someday discuss the state's homeless crisis, crime rate, debt, quality of life and population exodus. He signed off, "Your old friend Sean."
"In my next round of questions we can discuss 1-why your plan to end homelessness failed spectacularly, 2-California’s out of control Crime problem, 3-The debt and deficit problems in California, 4-quality of life issues in California and 5- Why so many people are leaving your state. Mr Part-time Governor, full time podcaster and full time tweety bird, it’s been a blast catching up. Thank you in advance for taking time away from Hating Donald Trump to (hopefully) answer these important questions!! Your old friend Sean"