Vogue Gushes Over California Governor Gavin Newsom

The magazine's profile of the potential 2028 presidential candidate is criticized as overly flattering and biased.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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A new Vogue profile of California Governor Gavin Newsom has drawn criticism for its overwhelmingly positive and fawning portrayal of the Democratic politician. The article, written by Maya Singer with photos by Annie Leibovitz, describes Newsom as "embarrassingly handsome" and "Kennedy-esque," while praising his "stunning wife and four adorable kids" and his "executive strut of a self-made millionaire." The profile is seen as an advertisement for Newsom's new memoir and a promotion of him as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, with the author thrilling at the thought of Newsom standing up to former President Donald Trump.

Why it matters

The Vogue profile is criticized as an example of media bias, with the magazine accused of providing an overly flattering and uncritical portrayal of Newsom that reads more like a campaign advertisement than a journalistic piece. This raises questions about the role of the media in shaping political narratives and the potential influence of such coverage on voters.

The details

The Vogue article, written by Maya Singer, begins by describing Newsom as "embarrassingly handsome" and "Kennedy-esque" as he delivers his final State of the State address. Singer is awed by Newsom's "sheer magnetism" and says it "must drive Trump nuts." She praises Newsom's "stunning wife and four adorable kids" and his "executive strut of a self-made millionaire." The profile is seen as an advertisement for Newsom's new memoir, "Young Man in a Hurry," which Singer says "sets him up as someone who fights, someone who dreams big, someone who sweats the details, someone with a desire to serve."

  • Newsom delivered his final State of the State address in 2026.

The players

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic governor of California, who is seen as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

Maya Singer

The author of the Vogue profile on Newsom.

Annie Leibovitz

The renowned celebrity photographer who took the photos for the Vogue profile.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who is mentioned in the Vogue profile as a foil to Newsom.

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What they’re saying

“Let's get this out of the way. He is embarrassingly handsome, his hair seasoned with silver, at ease with his own eminence …”

— Maya Singer, Author (Vogue)

“There's a photo that does the online rounds now and then, a shot of the governor on the tarmac at LAX, aiming his finger at the president's chest. Bouncer body language, like Hey buddy, not so fast. It has seemed at times, this past year, that the only thing standing athwart Donald Trump's will to power is Gavin Newsom.”

— Maya Singer, Author (Vogue)

The takeaway

The Vogue profile of Gavin Newsom is seen as an example of media bias, with the magazine providing an overly flattering and uncritical portrayal of the California governor that reads more like a campaign advertisement than a journalistic piece. This raises questions about the role of the media in shaping political narratives and the potential influence of such coverage on voters.