California Governor Gavin Newsom has tussled with Donald Trump without alienating the president’s Silicon Valley supporters. His wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, is striking a sharper tone.
In an interview with Bloomberg’s The Circuit, California’s first partner called the rightward shift of some tech-industry titans “disheartening and disturbing.”
“When you spend too much time in your bubble of wealth,” Siebel Newsom said, “where you only interact with people of the same economic ilk unless they actually are employed by you, I think that’s a really dangerous place.”
Several tech leaders with longstanding ties to Newsom have recently moved closer to Trump, including Sergey Brin, the Google co-founder who’s been close to Newsom since his tenure as San Francisco’s mayor, and Marc Benioff, the billionaire co-founder of Salesforce Inc. and godfather to one of the first California couple’s four children.
Benioff said last year that Trump is “doing a great job.” Alphabet Inc., Apple Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., all based in California, have also contributed to Trump’s White House ballroom project.
Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker, is widely regarded as a key confidant and sounding board for her husband, who is seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender. She has sponsored efforts to reduce gender pay gaps across the state and support children’s mental and physical health.
Her critical assessment contrasts with the governor’s more conciliatory posture. Newsom acknowledged the difference in tone.
“She has strong opinions. I give a little more grace,” Newsom said in the Circuit interview. While arguing that Silicon Valley is “selling out” to the White House, he called the industry’s embrace of Trump “situational.”
“I get the sort of corporate side of their decision making, sadly,” Newsom said. “I think the vast majority will quote unquote come back. I don’t think they’ve gone that far as perceived.”
Newsom has spent months trying to strike a balance as the tech industry drifts away from his party. Aside from sparring publicly with Elon Musk, he has largely avoided directly criticizing tech leaders he knows personally.
The governor’s centrist posture has at times frustrated progressive allies who are more critical of the technology industry and would like to see tougher oversight.
At a recent news conference, labor leaders pressed Newsom to take a tougher stance on AI regulation, arguing that he would struggle to mount a successful presidential campaign if he doesn’t move to curb automation and protect workers from job losses.
Siebel Newsom was raised in a Republican household. Her family was struck by tragedy when her older sister, Stacey, was killed while on vacation in Hawaii.
“I really woke up after my sister died,” Siebel Newsom said. “But I also lived with a lot of guilt and pain.”
Siebel Newsom went on to receive two degrees from Stanford University, with her documentary work focusing mostly on women representation and inequality. “I got through it, to come out on the other side and realize that I survived and have this opportunity to be of service,” Siebel Newsom said.
As Newsom’s national profile has grown, his family has found itself under growing scrutiny. Last year, the Democratic governor told the late Charlie Kirk during a podcast conversation that his son was a big fan of the conservative activist. To Siebel Newsom, the portrayal of her son’s interest in Kirk and other conservative figures was overblown.
“He’s just trying to get attention, curious. You’re trying on masculinities at that age,” she said. “I was not happy about it because it’s not our values and it’s not who my child is.” Siebel Newsom said Kirk’s fatal shooting last year was “horrible” and she was sorry for his family.
Newsom said his political life has taken a toll on his children. In one instance, the family decided to homeschool their daughter because of the strain. He remembered staging an eighth-grade graduation ceremony in the family’s living room.
“That’s politics,” he said, “and that’s stuff you don’t get back.”
Newsom, widely seen as Democratic presidential contender, said he has no idea if he’ll actually run.
“That’s a family decision for down the line,” Siebel Newsom said at their home in Marin County. “It’s been a wild seven years. We’ll see.”
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