US Attorney refers Gavin Newsom X account to Secret Service after ominous Kristi Noem post

Acting US Attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, said Saturday he has referred a social media post from Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office to the Secret Service that he said could have been a potential threat against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Earlier Saturday morning, Newsom’s press office posted on X, “Kristi Noem is going to have a bad day today. You’re welcome, America.” The initial post did not clarify what it was referencing.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the remark on X, writing, “This reads like a threat. This is ugly [Gavin Newsom]. Your keyboard warrior team may hide behind their laptops and spew this kind of vitriol but you would never have the guts to say this to her face.”

Newsom’s press office responded by mocking McLaughlin’s own words. Following the exchange, Essayli posted on X, “We have zero tolerance for direct or implicit threats against government officials. I've referred this matter to [The US Secret Service] and requested a full threat assessment.”

The governor’s social media team has recently adopted a satirical tone in an attempt to parody President Donald Trump’s online persona. The account has often used all-caps and phrases that Trump has used in posts to Truth Social.

Hours after the initial post, Newsom’s press office responded by announcing the governor would sign legislation intended to “protect immigrant communities” and “hold Trump accountable.”

The post sparked backlash amid heightened political tensions following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Trump administration has faced threats of its own, and reports this week revealed that White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was recently assigned a Secret Service protective detail.