Fox News host Jesse Watters offered blunt political advice Friday to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, arguing that the governor should take an uncompromising approach if he ultimately faces former Vice President Kamala Harris in a battle for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
The comments came during Friday’s edition of Fox News’ “The Five,” where panelists discussed growing speculation surrounding the future of the Democratic Party and who might emerge as its standard-bearer in the next presidential cycle.
The discussion followed a report published Thursday by The Wall Street Journal that described Newsom and Harris as political rivals increasingly viewed as potential frontrunners for the Democratic nomination. The report portrayed the two California Democrats as figures whose political futures may be on a collision course as speculation intensifies about the party’s post-Biden leadership.
During the segment, Fox News displayed a chyron reading “California Catfight,” setting the stage for a discussion about how a potential primary battle might unfold.
Watters argued that Newsom should avoid taking a cautious or overly diplomatic approach if both candidates enter the race.
“You gotta stop pussyfooting around when you’re dealing with Harris,” Watters said.
He suggested that concerns about criticism from the media should not prevent Newsom from engaging aggressively in a political contest.
According to Watters, attempts to avoid controversy or soften attacks could prove ineffective if the governor finds himself competing against Harris for support within the Democratic Party.
“This is a fight. You gotta take the gloves off,” Watters said.
The Fox host went on to argue that Newsom should not be deterred by accusations that he is being unfair or overly critical.
“If he starts dancing around ’cause he doesn’t wanna offend blacks or women, that’s not gonna cut it,” Watters said. “The media’s already gonna say you’re mansplaining and you’re being mean.”
Watters then employed highly combative political rhetoric to describe how he believes Newsom should approach a campaign against Harris, arguing that the former vice president represents an earlier political era and has already had an opportunity to prove herself on the national stage.
“She can’t perform. Put her out of her misery,” Watters said. “You see, she can’t cut it. She had a shot. She’s from the past. We can’t do the Biden era anymore.”
The remarks reflect growing discussion among political observers about the Democratic Party’s future leadership. While neither Harris nor Newsom has formally launched a 2028 presidential campaign, both continue to attract significant attention as potential contenders.
The conversation on “The Five” later shifted to discussion of Hunter Biden.
Watters offered a more nuanced assessment of Hunter Biden, saying he found him somewhat likable despite maintaining criticism of his past behavior.
“I wouldn’t call him presidential timber,” Watters said. “But I like him.”
Watters characterized Hunter Biden as being in what he described as a “redemption arc,” while adding that overcoming personal struggles does not erase prior conduct.
“Just because he did drugs and now doesn’t do drugs doesn’t excuse the fact that he’s a jerk,” Watters said. “He’s still kind of a jerk, but he’s likeable now. He’s actually pretty witty.”
Fellow Fox News host Greg Gutfeld responded by extending an invitation to Hunter Biden to appear on his late-night program “Gutfeld!” saying he would like to “discuss this further.”
As attention increasingly turns toward the next presidential cycle, discussions like the one on “The Five” underscore how the battle for influence within the Democratic Party is already becoming a subject of intense media interest, even years before primary voters cast their ballots.
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