California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday that the state will redraw its House maps after President Trump failed to respond to a letter urging him to have Republican-led states halt mid-decade redistricting efforts. In a statement on X crafted to parody Trump’s Truth Social style, Newsom mocked the president with the nickname “Donald ‘Taco’ Trump” and declared that California would now create “more beautiful maps” that Democrats believe could help them retake the House.
Newsom’s post promised a “BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR ‘MAGA.’” The statement was widely interpreted as both a political challenge and a strategic warning to the GOP.
On Monday, Newsom had sent a formal letter to Trump, accusing him of “playing with fire” by supporting Texas and other Republican states in drawing new House maps before the next census. He argued such moves risk destabilizing democracy, warning that if red states persisted, California would counterbalance them with its own redistricting. The governor also offered to stand down if the GOP-led states agreed to stop.
Trump, whose administration has been actively encouraging red states to redraw maps in hopes of securing more Republican seats before the 2026 elections, was given until Tuesday evening to respond but did not. Republicans are banking on these efforts to bolster their standing in the House despite historical midterm challenges faced by a sitting president’s party.
Newsom said California is already preparing a special November election related to the new maps. He indicated that other Democratic-led states are considering similar redraws, signaling an escalating map war ahead of the midterms.
The “Taco Trump” jab quickly caught fire on social media, with critics of the president amplifying the nickname while conservative commentators accused Newsom of juvenile taunting. The episode underscores how redistricting battles are becoming not just legal and political fights, but cultural flashpoints — with personal insults, partisan theater, and high stakes for control of Congress.