California Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a fierce backlash after critics accused him of ‘talking out of both sides of his mouth’ in a blistering response to President Donald Trump’s unprecedented strike on Iran.

Newsom’s statement both called for the end of Tehran’s regime while condemning the military operation targeting it as ‘illegal’ and ‘dangerous.’

Newsom posted a sharply worded message on X in the hours following the coordinated US-Israeli assault on Iranian targets.

‘The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go,’ Newsom wrote. 

‘But that does not justify the President of the United States engaging in an illegal, dangerous war that will risk the lives of our American service members and our friends without justification to the American people. 

‘President Trump is putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home.’

Within minutes, critics pounced – arguing the governor’s position was contradictory.

‘Which one is it Gavin? They can’t have nuclear weapons and need to be removed? Or the operation is not justified?’ one X user shot back. ‘Pick one stance please. If you want to run for President, you should get comfortable making bold statements on where you stand.’

California Governor Gavin Newsom accused Trump of ‘putting Americans at risk abroad because he is unpopular at home’ in his response to the joint US-Israeli strikes

Newsom wrote on X that ‘The corrupt and repressive Iranian regime must never have nuclear weapons. The leadership of Iran must go,’ while also calling President Trump’s military action an ‘illegal, dangerous war.’

One X user replied directly to Newsom: ‘Which one is it Gavin? They can’t have nuclear weapons and need to be removed? Or the operation is not justified?’

Another user defended Trump’s authority to authorize the strikes, writing: ‘Not illegal – but you’d have to be able to read the Constitution to know that.’

A third commenter urged the governor to back the country during a time of conflict: ‘I know this is hard for you Gavin, so let’s try saying it together: ‘I support America.’

Others mocked him more bluntly. ‘Iran is going to be free before California,’ one user quipped. Another added: ‘What’s the better course of action? Asking the leader of Iran to please resign? Maybe sending a fruit basket?’

The exchange unfolded against the backdrop of a stunning escalation in the Middle East.

Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the region. 

Explosions rocked cities from Tel Aviv to the Gulf. Israeli emergency services reported that an Iranian missile strike killed a woman in the Tel Aviv area and wounded about 20 others. 

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said a Pakistani civilian was killed by falling debris.

Iran’s Red Crescent reported at least 201 people killed and more than 700 wounded in the strikes. 

A group of demonstrators gather in the southern Iraqi city of Basra to protest US and Israeli strikes against Iran 

Trump said in a statement: ‘Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,’ though Iranian officials did not immediately confirm the claim

A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on Saturday morning. Israel’s defense ministry announced it had launched a ‘preemptive strike’ on Iran

The Iranian judiciary said one strike that hit a school in the south killed 108 people, though independent verification was not immediately possible.

It was, by the Israeli military’s own account, the largest air raid in its history – and the first US military action of this scale apparently aimed at toppling a foreign government since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Israel’s army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said the operation was ‘taking place at a completely different scale’ than the 12-day war it fought against Iran in June, which the US briefly joined.

An Israeli military statement said it was the largest military air raid in the history of its air force.

Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, the UAE and Israel all closed their airspaces to civilian traffic, at least in part, and multiple airlines cancelled flights to the Middle East.

‘Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,’ Trump said in a statement.

Trump vowed no let-up in the strikes until the fall of the Islamic republic as he urged security forces to stand down.

‘This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,’ Trump said.

In this picture obtained from Iran’s ISNA news agency, rescuers search through the rubble of a collapsed building at the site of a strike in Tehran

Israeli security forces inspect the site of an Iranian missile strike in Tel Aviv

The US Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford was part of the huge build-up of forces in the region ahead of the strikes

Speaking before Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of Khamenei that there were ‘many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive’ and said to Iranians, ‘This is your time to join forces, to overthrow the regime and to secure your future.’

The Israeli army said that Ali Shamkhani, a top advisor to Khamenei, and the head of Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Pakpour, were both also killed.

One apparent survivor, Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, vowed defiance.

‘The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors,’ he said.