‘First Partner’: Gavin Newsom’s birthday post for wife sparks trolling; users mock title choice
California Governor Gavin Newsom faced a wave of trolling on Thursday after posting a birthday message to his wife, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, calling her “first partner of California” In a post on X, Newsom wrote: “Happy Birthday to the First Partner of California, the outstanding mother of our four incredible children, and the love of my life, @JenSiebelNewsom. I hope your day is just as remarkable as the work that you’ve done for California’s women and kids. Forever an honour to witness firsthand the amount of care, strength, and compassion you demonstrate every single day. Happy Birthday, Jen.”The term “First Partner” quickly became the focus of online ridicule. While the wives of US state governors traditionally use the informal title “First lady,” similar to the First Lady of the United States, Jennifer Siebel Newsom chose a different approach. Unlike her predecessors, who embraced the “First Lady of California” title, she adopted the gender-neutral term “First partner” when her husband, Gavin Newsom, took office in 2019.One user suggested Newsom was trying to appear presidential, posting, “Dude. You will never be president. I’d be more focused on avoiding jail.”“Are you trying to tell us you’re with a man now or something, Gavin?” a user wrote, mocking Democrat support for homosexuality.Others took personal jabs at the governor’s marriage, suggesting infidelity. “Did you cheat on her yet? We know you’re going to,” one comment read. Newsom, a Democrat and a frequent target of conservative criticism, has previously faced attacks from Donald Trump.
