CNN Exposes Falsehoods in Gavin Newsom's Statements on 'Latinx' and Transgender Athlete Law

California Governor Gavin Newsom faces scrutiny after CNN fact-checks reveal contradictions in his claims about language use and his role in a 2014 transgender athlete law.

CNN fact-checked Gavin Newsom's claim that no one in his office had ever used the term 'Latinx,' airing multiple clips and social media posts showing him using the term between 2020 and 2023.
Newsom's office responded to the fact-check, stating that 'Latinx is not a term that is regularly used by the administration.'
The governor also attempted to distance himself from a 2014 California transgender athlete law, claiming it was passed before he became governor, despite praising it as lieutenant governor at the time.
Critics, including former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, have questioned Newsom's recent outreach to conservative figures like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon as part of a potential strategy for a 2028 presidential run.
Newsom defended his interactions with conservative figures, citing the need for Democrats to explore new ways of engaging with diverse audiences following recent election results.