Linda McMahon Responds After Gavin Newsom’s Office Uses Clip of GOP Mayor Piledriving Her
In a recent political exchange, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office attempted to mock Education Secretary Linda McMahon by sharing a wrestling GIF that depicted her being body-slammed by a male wrestler. This was in response to McMahon’s criticism of Newsom’s adherence to Title IX rules, wich aim to protect female athletes from being overpowered by male competitors in sports. McMahon, during an interview, asserted that governors who fail to uphold these regulations could risk losing federal funding.
In her comments, McMahon highlighted the serious implications for women in sports, including missed opportunities and unfair treatment in competitive settings. In response to Newsom’s GIF, she expressed disappointment at his lack of seriousness regarding the issue at hand, arguing that the mockery only showcased a lack of respect for women’s rights.
Newsom’s team characterized McMahon’s concerns as “dramatic” and disconnected from reality, but in doing so, they inadvertently reinforced the very issue she was addressing-women being overshadowed in sports by stronger males.McMahon is an advocate for women’s divisions in sports and has been vocal against attempts to redefine gender in ways that compromise female athletes’ rights. the exchange underscores ongoing tensions regarding gender policies and women’s rights in competitive athletics.
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office tried to score political points this past week by posting a wrestling GIF of Education Secretary Linda McMahon being body-slammed by a man.
It didn’t go as planned.
McMahon warned radical governors such as Newsom that their failure to adhere to Title IX rules to protect female athletes would result in them losing federal funding.
The secretary touched on the topic during an interview with Fox News, which she d a clip of on X.
Today, @usedgov let @GavinNewsom know his state’s policies are in violation of Title IX several times over. Letting men beat women in their sport of choice is illegal and wrong.
You can either stand up for women or answer to the law. pic.twitter.com/96eMOT6huo
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) June 25, 2025
She tagged Newsom and commented, “Letting men beat women in their sport of choice is illegal and wrong. You can either stand up for women or answer to the law.”
Newsom’s office responded by sharing a 2003 clip of McMahon’s former WWE persona being physically dominated by a male wrestler — Republican Knox County, Tennessee, Mayor Glenn Jacobs, better known as “Kane.”
The governor’s team captioned the GIF: “Live look at Linda’s legal claims.”
Live look at Linda’s legal claims https://t.co/0dwc3kvaIe pic.twitter.com/eQkBVowNrN
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) June 25, 2025
The image shows the much larger Jacobs lifting McMahon over his head before slamming her to the ground.
In a post meant to mock McMahon, Newsom’s office instead highlighted the very concern she was raising: women are being overpowered — literally and politically — by men in competitive spaces.
Newsom’s office later commented, “Secretary McMahon is confusing government with her WrestleMania days — dramatic, fake, and completely divorced from reality. This won’t stick.”
Secretary McMahon is confusing government with her WrestleMania days — dramatic, fake, and completely divorced from reality. This won’t stick. https://t.co/H5UqMPuArE
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) June 25, 2025
McMahon fired back Wednesday in comments to Fox News.
“I think what that said is that Gavin Newsom doesn’t really take this seriously at all. And I was surprised that that was the clip that he used… He was trying to be funny on a very serious matter. We have women who are training to compete in these sports who lose scholarship and sponsorship opportunities, who get injured, who are compelled to be in dressing rooms or their intimate spaces with men, and that is absolutely unfair.”
McMahon also pointed out that Newsom admitted to Charlie Kirk earlier this year that it is unfair to allow women and girls to be subjected to facing stronger, more physically imposing males in competition.
In attempting to humiliate a sitting cabinet official, Newsom’s team used an image of a woman being violently slammed to the ground by a man, and thought it was clever.
But the message it actually sent was one of open contempt for women who speak up. And in this case, a woman who is actively working to protect fairness and safety in sports.
McMahon, a former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, has long been a public advocate for protecting women’s spaces in sports and education.
As Education Secretary, she has led President Donald Trump’s effort to push back against Biden-era attempts to redefine gender in ways that flout reality.
McMahon’s message has been clear: she stands with women and girls.
Newsom’s response was just as clear: mock, belittle, and erase them.
The post from his office might have been intended as a joke. But as usual, the joke was on the left.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
