President Donald Trump's latest attack against a top Democrat on Monday night left analysts and observers astounded.
Trump posted on Truth Social that California Gov. Gavin Newsom had dropped out of the 2028 presidential race, a campaign that Newsom has yet to confirm that he is running. The post came after MAGA piled on Newsom for making a comment about his intelligence that they construed to be a negative comment about Black people.
"Wow! Gavin Newscum just dropped out of the Presidential Race!!! President DJT," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Analysts and observers reacted to the post on social media.
"Trump just blinked. He's scared," journalist Oscar Gonzalez posted on X.
Michael McDonald, a political science professor at the University of Florida, posted on Bluesky that Newsom "can now declare Trump just resigned."
"Our president's AI-generated reality continues apace, I guess," economist Sky Marchini posted on Bluesky.
"He did?!" independent journalist Chris Cilliza posted on X. "Uh...."
Trump's attacks came as public polling showed the president losing support as the midterms approached. In public remarks on Monday, Trump said polls showing he has an around 40% approval rating are "wrong," and claimed that his approval is "much higher" without providing evidence.