James Woods Criticizes Gavin Newsom’s National Rise, Citing California Wildfire Failures

Actor James Woods criticizes Gov. Gavin Newsom’s growing national profile, citing California wildfire mismanagement and governance failures as warning signs.

Max Bacall | Fox News | Tues., Dec. 16, 2025 | 5:22 AM GMT+

Actor James Woods launched an attack against California Gov. Gavin Newsom that was scathing on Sunday, asserting that while Newsom appears to be gaining momentum for what was seen as an impending run for president, this momentum has come about based upon a thoroughly “atrocious” record in California that Newsom has compiled. Appearing on Fox News, Woods suggested that while Newsom has managed to capitalize on the lack of leadership from the Democratic Party, his moment in the sun will soon come to an end once his record receives closer examination.
When speaking with One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, Woods stated that “the presence of Newsom in the political limelight has more to do with a void in leadership in the Democratic Party” than his own ability as a politician, because with a national leader, Newsom “would not be at center stage with all of the problems that are occurring in California.”

Remedy for a “Power Vacuum” in Democratic Leadership

Woods is very candid in his appraisal of the current crop of national-level leaders within the Democratic Party. He writes of several key Democrats who are regularly touted in speculation about the future leadership of the party and says that they have not been able to gain the confidence of the public.
“They have no leader,” Woods told the interviewer. “I mean, Kamala Harris, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, all these people—they’re, I hate to use the expression because it’s used so often, but they’re a clown show. And nature abhors a vacuum.”
In Woods’ opinion, “’Newsom has moved to fill this void, positioning himself as a smooth, media-savvy politician who is able to lead the Democratic cause on a national level.” But, he cautioned, “Visibility is not necessarily efficacy, and it is far too soon to tell what will prove to be popular in a very short period of time.”
“This slick grifter, Gavin Newsom, whose record is atrocious, but people don’t pay a lot of attention to that fact—he’s filling in the slot, basically,” Woods went on. “But as fruit farmers always say, early ripe, early rotten.”

National image vs. state-level reality

Newsom’s public profile has grown steadily in the past few years due to his highly publicized events and comments on national issues. According to his supporters, it is his crisis-leading skills, his boldness to differ with his counterparts in the Republican party, and the capacity to articulate the policy positions of the Democrats that qualify Newsom to run for presidency.
Woods, however, claimed that this view of the national image conceals what he termed as “governance failure at home.” He asserted that when the people outside of California become more aware of the problems facing the state, from the homeless crisis to crime rates to natural disasters and infrastructure issues caused by wildfires, the appeal of the governor will wane.

“He looks good on television, he sounds good giving speeches, but being a governor is based on results,” Woods said. “And California’s results speak for themselves.”

Wildfires and Personal Experience

A great deal of Woods’ criticism was aimed at the situation concerning wildfires in California, an issue which has entered headlines repeatedly and caused hardship for residents there. Woods’ comments were made not solely as an analyst of politics, but as someone who has known the danger of wildfires himself.
Woods told of how fires swept through his neighborhood, damaging several homes and threatening to reach his own. He attributes the fact that his house was spared from destruction to the provision of guidelines offered by the fire department on how to terrrace his hillside.
“Our house did survive—by the grace of God, and because we followed fire department guidelines,” Woods stated. “The house next to us didn’t do it—burned down.”

In the view of Woods, the rule was evident within his neighborhood because properties that did not remove the brush and defensible space were leveled while the others followed the guidelines and stood a better chance of surviving.

“He said the houses on his street that didn’t have their brush cut back burned down,” Woods emphasized, noting that words are less important than enforcement in combating and mitigating the destruction from wildfires.

Allegations of State Neglect

In addition to placing the onus on personal responsibility, Woods put a lot of fault on the state government as a result of inaction on land management that he asserts directly led to the fires. This was in reference to a land parcel adjacent to the wildfire site that had been under the control of the state government and had not been maintained in decades.

“They haven’t cut that brush since the 1978 fire,” Woods explained. “They can’t cut it because that piece of land is owned by the state. And they are protecting a plant that is literally a weed. And that is how the fire started in our neighborhood.”

Woods suggested that government policies and the efficiency of the bureaucracy have impeded operational brush clearance and fuel reduction on these lands, making them a dangerous fuel just waiting to be ignited. He attributed these policies to misguided administrative goals in the Newsom regime.
“It’s very simple,” Woods said. “If you don’t manage the land, nature will do it for you—with fire.”

Climate Change and Policy Choices

In 2007

Although Newsom and other state leaders have frequently cited climate change as a factor in the increasing intensity of wildfires in California, Woods has dismissed the theory as inadequate and somewhat politicized. The presenter insisted that, despite the possible influence of the weather, the destruction caused is mainly the result of failed policies.
“This had nothing to do with climate change,” Woods declared. “This was an issue of mismanagement. It was an issue of not clearing brush, enforcing regulations, and in some cases letting ideology trump common sense.”
Woods’ remarks reflect the larger conversation that is taking place in the state of California and the country at large, where there is belief that forest management is no longer being done but rather that the environment is being protected at the expense of forest management. On the other hand, proponents of the current state of affairs assert that drought and heat brought about by climate change are responsible for the intensity of fires regardless of the level of land management that is taking place.

Political Connotations for After 2028

Speculation about a potential run by Newsom has intensified, given his ongoing funds-raising and campaigning on behalf of other Democrats. Although Newsom has yet to make a declaration regarding his potential future plans, it is a common perception that Newsom is preparing for a run.
Woods believed that these aspirations are both premature and likely destined for failure once his credentials are put under national examination.
“People on the other side of California aren’t living with the situation on a daily basis,” said Woods. “But once they begin to delve into the crime, the fires, the homelessness, the cost of living, this image isn’t going to hold.”

As Woods stated, a voter base in the Democratic Party may be attracted to the charisma and communication skills exhibited by Newsom, particularly within a crowded presidential primary field. He anticipated that focus on the issues in California would lead to a loss of support over time.

A Broader Conservative Critique

This is consistent with a larger theme that has evolved among conservatives in their criticism of the Democratic Party government in “deep blue states.” The Republican Party has often referred to California as a “case study” where “progressivism has failed.”
“Case Study: California and the Flawed Policies of Progressivism” is a pamphlet by the Republican State

In any case, the actor has long been a vocal conservative presence in the film industry and a critic of Governor Newsom in particular within the context of a larger attempt by conservatives to make California a warning story rather than a model. Nevertheless, Newsom’s allies would argue that the issues faced by the state are complex in nature and have arisen primarily due to years of growth and inequities. They would also say that Newsom has made significant progress in several sectors.

Looking Ahead This is a national political landscape that will increasingly place Gavin Newsom and people like him under intense pressure from all sides. The bottom line for people like James Woods is that charisma alone will simply not be sufficient.
“Early ripe, early rotten,” he said, repeating the words he once used to categorize Newsom’s ascendency, “That’s what you get when you confuse image with substance.”
Whether the voting public will ultimately support or reject Woods’ views remains to be seen. However, as the rumors of the coming presidential election period continue to build, the debate over leadership, qualifications, and record—particularly in as powerful a state as California—can only grow.