BURSTCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) pushed back on podcaster Joe Rogan after the commentator called the politician a "bulls‑‑‑ artist" and criticized him over his policies.
Rogan argued during a recent episode of his popular podcast that Newsom wants to be president "so bad," which he called "pretty funny."
"You can't ruin a city and ruin a state and say guys, that was just practice," Rogan continued. "I think he's terrible ... he has low competition ... he's a good bulls‑‑‑ artist."
The commentator claimed "everybody is leaving" California and knocked the governor over the state's unemployment and homelessness figures.
"He did horrible s‑‑‑," he said.
Newsom, in a post Wednesday on social platform X, hit back at Rogan and argued the podcaster is afraid to host him on his program.
"Rogan is too [chicken emoji] to have me on his show and expose his listeners to the truth, so I’ll put it here," Newsom said. "California is: - 4th largest economy in the world - #1 in manufacturing - #1 in farming - #1 in new business starts. - #1 for tech and VC investments - #1 for Fortune 500 companies - #1 public higher education."
"I could continue," Newsom said. "Invite me on any time."
Newsom has increased his social media presence in recent months and used X to attack his political enemies, particularly President Trump.
Rogan, who has previously voted for Democrats, last year endorsed Trump though he too has criticized the president over a number of issues during his second term, including his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.