Gov. Gavin Newsom's office is battling investigative journalist Chris Rufo after the Manhattan Institute senior fellow ran a report detailing what the California Democrat was doing the day after violent anti-ICE riots broke out in Los Angeles, with some arguing it gave off "French Laundry vibes."
As most will remember, during the height of the Covid pandemic, Newsom drew national condemnation for skirting his own rules by attending the swanky French Laundry with political allies. Despite his own advice to residents about family gatherings as the Thanksgiving holiday approached, Newsom was pictured among political allies maskless and certainly not practicing social distancing in what he later acknowledged was a "mistake."
This time, however, Newsom was sipping wine in Napa Valley at a cancer charity "benefiting the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, in honor of his mother, who died of breast cancer at age 55," according to his office.
As Rufo and investigative reporter Ryan Thorpe report:
The wine-tasting was held on the afternoon of June 7, 2025, at the Odette Estate Winery, which Newsom co-founded in 2011. Dubbed “Vineyard Vibes,” the event was a fundraiser for the PlumpJack Foundation, founded by Newsom’s sister, and featured “contemporary yet sophisticated” wines, live jazz music, and locally made pizza and smash burgers. “It’s the perfect kick-off to summer fun,” read promotional language. “The fete will take place on the Winery Crushpad, where we’ll gather for music, food, conversation, and delicious wine!”
A source who photographed Newsom at the event expressed shock that the governor was in attendance, given that riots had broken out in Los Angeles the day before. “I couldn’t believe it,” the source said. “He was just walking around like this was an everyday occurrence.” Newsom was at the wine party for at least 90 minutes, according to the source, who said that when the governor finally left, he appeared to retreat to the inner rooms of his winery.
The timeline is worth noting. The Los Angeles riots broke out on June 6, in response to the Trump administration’s illegal-alien deportation policies. As Newsom sampled wines in Napa Valley the next day, rioters in Los Angeles had already begun vandalizing public buildings, barricading streets, setting vehicles on fire, and throwing rocks, bottles, and cinder blocks at law enforcement officers. That evening, after the wine party had finished, President Trump authorized the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops to California, saying that they were needed to “address the lawlessness.” (City Journal)
The story led to a war of words on X between the parties with plenty of others chiming in as well.
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You are a dishonest hack. You deliberately omitted key context we gave you — including that the event was an annual fundraiser FOR CANCER RESEARCH hosted in HONOR OF THE GOVERNOR’S DEAD MOTHER who died of breast cancer. That’s not sloppy journalism. It’s deliberatively dishonest.… pic.twitter.com/M9GgGvJzL9
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) June 19, 2025
Incredible how you managed to mention every appetizer and wine label — but only mentioned in passing the fact this was a fundraiser for a CANCER CENTER in honor of the Governor’s late mother.
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) June 19, 2025
That’s not just dishonest. It’s gross. pic.twitter.com/jmrRKkRVFk
I’m sorry, how did the governor’s mother die? pic.twitter.com/REuCVb60xt
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) June 20, 2025
Pretty pathetic to question the integrity of others after the official statement from Newsom’s office outright lies that there was no violence before Gavin was tossing back Cabernet at an event on Saturday.
— Brad Slager: CNN+ Lifetime Subscriber (@MartiniShark) June 20, 2025
It was widely reported, and verifiable @BrandonRichards https://t.co/fETws1NTRY pic.twitter.com/3GLgTaHnNw
Just like French Laundry during Covid. @CAgovernor didn’t arrive in LA until almost 72 hours after the riots started and the situation @MayorOfLA created was out of control. He only arrived after Trump announced he was deploying the national guard. https://t.co/kuBrAuBChA
— wheelsosteel8 (@wheelsosteel8) June 20, 2025
You can fundraise for something without attending the event if the biggest city in your state is experiencing rioting. Absolutely wild stuff that he'd not stop everything to do his job.
— Brittany (@bccover) June 19, 2025
