Gavin Newsom shared a trolling image of RFK Jr. after Sean Duffy’s comments on air travel etiquette
Executive summary
Gavin Newsom’s press office used a photo of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. walking barefoot down an airplane aisle to mock Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s call for “dressing with respect” on flights; multiple outlets report the image was posted on the Governor’s official X account as a deliberate rebuke to Duffy’s comments [1] [2]. The post fits a wider pattern: Newsom’s team has been publicly trolling Trump administration figures on X this year, drawing both praise and criticism in outlets ranging from The Independent and HuffPost to right‑leaning sites [2] [3] [4].
1. Newsom’s post: a targeted, public rebuke of Duffy’s etiquette push
California’s governor — via the Governor Newsom Press Office account on X — shared a photo of RFK Jr. barefoot on a plane in direct response to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s public push for higher standards of dress and behavior on commercial flights. Several outlets characterize the image as an intentional “clap‑back” at Duffy and the administration’s civility campaign [1] [2]. The Irish Star and The Independent both frame the post as Newsom flipping Duffy’s admonition back on a Trump‑aligned official [1] [5].
2. The image and its targets: RFK Jr., Duffy and a broader messaging tactic
The photograph shows RFK Jr. ambling barefoot down an airplane aisle and was used by Newsom’s team as a visual retort; The Independent specifically described it as depicting Kennedy “ambling barefoot” with “scant regard for other travellers or basic hygiene” [5]. Newsom’s office has repeatedly used parody and deliberately provocative imagery to mock Trump administration figures and policies, making this episode consistent with a deliberate social‑media strategy rather than an offhand post [2] [3].
3. Media reaction: partisan split and recurring coverage
Coverage divides along predictable lines. Left‑leaning and mainstream outlets call the post a successful, if cheeky, piece of political theater that plays into Newsom’s ongoing online antagonism toward the Trump White House [2] [3]. Conservative outlets and pro‑Trump websites flagged other Newsom posts as vulgar or counterproductive in past incidents — noting his team’s provocative tactics attracted backlash when an earlier image was judged “vulgar” or “allegedly photoshopped” [6] [4]. That split underscores that interpretation of the stunt depends heavily on outlet and audience [6] [4].
4. Political context: Newsom as a national figure using social media warfare
Newsom is widely discussed as a national political figure and potential 2028 contender; his team’s X posts have become part of his public brand, used to lampoon Trump, administration officials and policies [7] [3]. The barefoot RFK Jr. image should be read in that light: an intentional viral jibe aimed at undercutting the administration’s posture on civility and norms while energizing Newsom’s base and media attention [2] [3].
5. What reporting does not establish
Available sources do not mention any official response from Duffy or the White House directly addressing Newsom’s RFK Jr. post; they also do not provide confirmation that the photo was altered by Newsom’s office versus reposted as found (available sources do not mention whether the image was edited). The sources do not assert any legal or formal ethics complaint arising from the post (available sources do not mention complaints).
6. Competing narratives and implicit agendas
Two clear narratives emerge in reporting: one presents the post as clever political satire that exposes perceived hypocrisy in the administration’s etiquette push (The Independent; Irish Star) [5] [1]; the other frames Newsom’s tactics as mean‑spirited or unbecoming for an official account, citing past instances where his team posted content critics called vulgar (The Gateway Pundit; Fox News) [6] [4]. Each outlet’s coverage reflects editorial and political leanings; readers should note that Newsom’s campaign style both wins viral attention and opens him to accusations of overreach from opponents [2] [4].
7. Bottom line for readers
This episode is not an isolated social‑media gaffe but part of a deliberate, repeatable strategy by Newsom’s press shop to use provocative imagery against Trump administration figures — a tactic that generates wide engagement and polarized coverage [2] [3]. Evaluate reactions against the source’s perspective: outlets reporting favorably emphasize effective satire and political messaging [2], while skeptical outlets foreground concerns about tone and professionalism [6] [4].