TROLL LOL LOL LA LEE
Politics is rarely polite, and never more so than when Donald Trump is involved. He has long mocked California’s Governor Gavin Newsom with the sneering nickname “Gavin New-scum.”
So how long do you let a bully keep bullying before you push back?
Gavin Newsom has chosen his weapon wisely. and by punching up, he trolls Trump with parody. And it stings
Humour as Kryptonite
Rick Wilson, co-founder of The Lincoln Project and a brilliant guest on The Humourology Podcast, has seen it up close. I follow him on Substack, where he is always fascinating and entertaining. His mantra is clear:
Authoritarians are fragile. Humour is their kryptonite.
Trump’s power relies on bluster, bravado and bombast. Mockery punctures all three. It’s no accident that Trump rails hardest against ridicule, because deep down, he knows that laughter corrodes authority faster than any policy paper.
Trolling in Trumpian Tongue
Newsom has mastered the art of answering Trump in Trump’s own style – all-caps proclamations, sprawling superlatives, and comic exaggeration. Consider this gem from his press office:
“TODAY WE WILL MAKE THE MAPS GREAT AGAIN!”
Or this pitch-perfect parody of Trump’s voice:
“WOW!!! MY MAPS (THE BEST MAPS EVER MADE) WILL SOON PASS IN THE GREATEST LEGISLATURE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD (NOT JUST AMERICA).”
It’s funny because it’s familiar. The cadences, the ego, the random capitals – all turned back on their creator. Newsom isn’t just mocking; he’s mirroring. By imitating Trump so precisely, he reveals the absurdity of the original.
From Playground to Podium
Of course, one could ask: does this sort of trolling actually change anything, or is it just memes in the wind?
John O’Farrell another wonderful Humourology guest, reminds us that satire can sometimes soothe more than it stings. It can make people laugh but also let them shrug and move on. Mockery alone won’t topple a movement.
But here’s the truth: when faced with a bully, refusing to respond simply emboldens them. Humour is a way of pushing back without becoming bitter. It reclaims the power imbalance. Newsom is not stooping to Trump’s level; he’s showing that he can beat him at his own game, and do it with a smile.
Why Humour Hurts
To be laughed at is to lose control of the story. Trump thrives on dominance – rallies, chants, the staged grandeur of gold-leaf backdrops. Humour snatches away that control. Suddenly the man who would be emperor is revealed as the punchline.
As Rick Wilson put it:
The idea that you can look at the worst moments and find something about them to mock or to make lighter — that’s a really strong character trait.
Newsom’s trolling is not cruel, but clever. It doesn’t kick down, it’s punching up. It reminds people that pomposity is only ever one well-timed joke away from collapse.
The Humourology Takeaway
So what lessons can leaders – in politics, business, or beyond – take from this?
- Bullies thrive on silence. Push back, and do it with wit.
- Mockery works best when it mirrors. The more closely humour reflects the original, the more ridiculous it appears.
- Keep it purposeful. Satire without a point is just noise. The best humour makes us laugh and think.
Trump called him “New-scum.” Newsom answered with parody. The balance shifted.
Humour won’t solve every political problem, but it can puncture pomposity, disarm aggression, and remind us that laughter is often the sharpest tool against fear.
And perhaps that’s the final lesson: when confronted by the biggest bully in the playground, sometimes the smartest thing you can do is make everyone else laugh.
See you next Tuesday.
Warmest,
Paul x
