Halle Berry Slams Gavin Newsom Over Broken Promises to Women, Casts Doubt on Presidential Ambitions

The actress criticized the California governor for vetoing a bill aimed at expanding insurance coverage for menopause treatments.

Published on Feb. 3, 2026

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Actress Halle Berry has called out California Governor Gavin Newsom for failing to follow through on his promises to women, particularly his veto of the Menopause Care Equity Act. Berry, who has been vocal in her criticism of Newsom, said that if he plans to run for president, he "can't sleep on women" and needs to "wake up." The feud between the two began in November 2025 when Berry co-wrote an opinion piece criticizing Newsom's veto of the bipartisan bill, and she later intensified her criticism at the New York Times DealBook Summit in December 2025.

Why it matters

Berry's criticism of Newsom highlights the ongoing debate around women's healthcare issues, particularly the lack of attention and resources dedicated to addressing conditions like menopause. Her comments also raise questions about Newsom's potential presidential ambitions and whether his record on women's issues could hinder his political aspirations.

The details

The Menopause Care Equity Act, which Newsom vetoed, aimed to expand insurance coverage for proven menopause treatments. Berry argued that if men experienced similar issues, the response would be very different, citing the fact that one in six women leaves the workplace due to menopausal symptoms. Newsom later tried to clear the air, saying his administration planned to include funding for the proposal in the 2026-2027 budget, but Berry was unaware of this.

  • In November 2025, Berry co-wrote an opinion piece in Time Magazine criticizing Newsom's veto of the Menopause Care Equity Act.
  • In December 2025, Berry intensified her criticism, publicly blasting Newsom at the New York Times DealBook Summit.
  • On February 2, 2026, Berry made additional comments about Newsom in a cover story published in The Cut.

The players

Halle Berry

A 59-year-old actress who has been vocal in her criticism of Gavin Newsom's policies, particularly his veto of the Menopause Care Equity Act.

Gavin Newsom

The 58-year-old governor of California who vetoed the Menopause Care Equity Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at expanding insurance coverage for proven menopause treatments.

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What they’re saying

“It's disturbing when people say they're going to do things and then they don't. But he heard what I said. If he is going to run to be our next president, he can't sleep on women. Wake up, Gavin.”

— Halle Berry (The Cut)

“Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one but two years in a row. But that's OK, because he's not going to be governor forever, and the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.”

— Halle Berry (New York Times DealBook Summit)

“If men had a medical condition that disrupted their sleep, brain function, and sex life, we'd be calling that a health crisis on par with Covid, and the whole world would shut down.”

— Halle Berry (New York Times DealBook Summit)

What’s next

Gavin Newsom has stated that he plans to include funding for the Menopause Care Equity Act in the 2026-2027 budget, which could help resolve the dispute with Halle Berry.

The takeaway

Halle Berry's criticism of Gavin Newsom highlights the ongoing struggle for women's healthcare issues to receive the same level of attention and resources as those affecting men. Her comments raise important questions about the political implications of Newsom's record on women's issues and the potential impact on his future political aspirations.