California Governor Gavin Newsom launched a pointed social media attack on former President Donald Trump this week, drawing a direct parallel between Trump's newly announced athletic competition and a popular dystopian film series.
A Dystopian Comparison Goes Viral
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, the Democratic governor responded to Trump's unveiling of a planned four-day sporting event called "Patriot Games." The contest, as announced by Trump, would feature one young man and one young woman from every U.S. state and territory competing against each other.
Newsom swiftly took to the platform X, using his official press office account to post a meme that highlighted what he implied were unsettling similarities. The meme, sourced from the television show "The Office," placed side-by-side photos of Donald Trump and President Snow, the ruthless leader from "The Hunger Games" film series portrayed by actor Donald Sutherland.
The caption read, "Corporate needs you to find the differences between this picture and this picture." It was followed by the iconic reply from the character Pam, played by Jenna Fischer: "They’re the same picture."
Newsom Doubles Down on the Critique
Not content with a single post, Governor Newsom amplified his critique on his personal account. He shared a famous clip from the "Hunger Games" movie where the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the deadly games.
Accompanying the clip, Newsom wrote the franchise's ominous catchphrase: "May the odds be ever in your favor." This move solidified his comparison of Trump's proposed patriotic competition to the fictional event where children are forced to fight to the death.
The governor's posts are part of his established pattern of relentless social media trolling directed at the former president. Newsom, who is frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate for the 2028 election, has used online platforms as a key tool for political commentary and opposition.
Broader Reactions and Political Context
While Governor Newsom's posts were among the most viral, reports indicated he was not alone in making the "Hunger Games" connection. Trump's announcement sparked widespread discussion and memes online, with many other users noting the thematic resemblance to the dystopian series.
The incident underscores the increasingly combative and pop-culture-savvy nature of modern political discourse. By leveraging recognizable references from film and television, politicians like Newsom can quickly frame their opponents' policies or announcements in a negative, easily digestible light for a broad online audience.
The "Patriot Games" proposal itself remains an announcement, with further details on its organization and execution yet to be fully revealed. However, Newsom's sharp and immediate response has ensured the plan is now permanently linked in the public conversation to a fictional world of authoritarian control and brutal spectacle.
