California Gov. Gavin Newsom found himself in an unexpectedly awkward moment during a televised interview when a journalist confronted him with social media comparisons likening him to Patrick Bateman, the Wall Street serial killer from the 2000 film “American Psycho.”
The uncomfortable exchange occurred on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, during an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl. Mid-conversation, Karl abruptly shifted gears to address the viral online memes that have drawn parallels between the Democratic governor and the fictitious character portrayed by Christian Bale.
“What do you make of all the Patrick Bateman talk?” Karl asked, catching Newsom visibly off guard.
The governor responded with what appeared to be a nervous laugh, beginning to answer before Karl produced printed pages of memes depicting Newsom as the Wall Street businessman-turned-murderer. Karl told the politician directly that people were comparing him to the “American Psycho” character.
A flustered Newsom attempted to deflect, referencing President Donald Trump’s derogatory nickname for him, “Newscum.” But Karl pressed further, noting that even Newsom’s friends had made the comparison.
“Oh, do they?” Newsom questioned, visibly caught off guard, before adding that he would need to reevaluate his guest list.
The journalist then escalated the awkwardness by reading aloud comments from an unnamed comedian who allegedly called Newsom “a literal comic book villain from central casting” with “Patrick Bateman vibes.” Karl continued, noting the comedian suggested Newsom “definitely had someone killed or may have killed someone himself,” prompting a chuckle from the governor.
Attempting to recover his composure, Newsom remarked that he was glad to still have some humor left before adopting a more serious tone. “This is a rough business. Particularly if you’re willing to fight. And I just hope we have more fighters,” he said. “I have no problem being out there with the arrows in my back, as long as it gives some space for people to run over me and move forward.”
The Bateman topic resurfaced later in the interview when Karl asked about the biggest misconception people hold about the governor. Newsom gestured to the printed memes, referencing the looks, the hair, and the overall image that leads people to form certain beliefs about him.
Karl sought clarification, asking if Newsom was suggesting people viewed him as a lightweight. The governor indicated he believed people focused more on style over substance, though he emphasized his pride in the policy work accomplished under his administration. He stated that he would put his substance in terms of policymaking up against anyone’s record.
The interview comes as Newsom has shifted his public stance on presidential ambitions. After years of firmly denying interest in the White House, the governor has recently begun acknowledging the possibility of a future run. In a June 2025 Wall Street Journal profile, Newsom stated he was not actively thinking about running but could see such a path unfold.
The timing of Karl’s interview coincided with heightened tensions between Newsom and the Trump administration over the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles in response to immigration enforcement protests. Trump sent approximately 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to the city against the governor’s wishes, prompting legal action from California.
The protests erupted following Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in heavily Latino areas of Los Angeles, with demonstrations beginning outside downtown facilities where detained migrants were allegedly being held. The situation escalated when protesters surrounded federal buildings and blocked the 101 freeway, bringing traffic to a standstill.
Newsom has used the military deployment controversy to reestablish himself as a leading voice of resistance against the Trump administration, conducting numerous media appearances and accusing the president of authoritarian tendencies. The governor filed legal challenges against what he characterized as an unlawful federalization of California’s National Guard.
More than half of California voters, according to a May 2025 poll by UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles Times, believe Newsom prioritizes his presidential prospects over governing the state and addressing its problems. Despite this perception, political analysts suggest his high-profile confrontations with Trump could enhance his national profile among voters who view him as defending democratic principles.
Throughout his career, Newsom consistently denied presidential ambitions, once telling NBC he had never considered running and possessed no interest in the position. He told CBS in 2022 that seeking the presidency was not his ambition and claimed sub-zero interest in the role. Those denials persisted through summer 2024 when he emerged as one of President Joe Biden’s most vocal supporters before Biden withdrew from the race.
