Savage Takedown: Bill Maher & Greg Gutfeld Rip Gavin Newsom to Shreds in Brutal Live Segment 😡🎙️

 

In a shocking and wildly entertaining live TV moment, Greg Gutfeld and Bill Maher joined forces—yes, you read that right—to tear apart California Governor Gavin Newsom during a heated political segment that quickly spiraled into a no-holds-barred takedown.

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Known for being on completely opposite ends of the political spectrum, Maher and Gutfeld found rare common ground… in blasting Newsom’s record, his hypocrisy, and his media polish.

What started as a spirited panel discussion exploded into a moment viewers will be replaying for weeks.

The setting? A primetime political roundtable being simulcast across several networks, with Newsom joining virtually to respond to criticism and pitch California’s leadership model as a national blueprint.

But the moment he started speaking, Gutfeld’s trademark smirk appeared—and Maher leaned forward like a predator smelling blood.

Newsom opened with what seemed like a scripted defense of his policies, touting California’s economy, its environmental initiatives, and its so-called “freedom-focused” approach to governance.

But he barely got past the second talking point before Maher pounced.

Bill Maher grills California Governor Gavin Newsom on state's many  regulations | Fox News

“Freedom? You shut down beaches and arrested surfers,” Maher snapped.

“That’s not freedom—that’s theater.

” The studio erupted in gasps and laughter.

Newsom tried to retort, claiming the measures were necessary during the pandemic, but Gutfeld immediately piled on.

“Oh come on,” Gutfeld shot back.

“You were caught at French Laundry with a wine glass in your hand while everyone else was locked in their homes.

You are the poster boy for hypocrisy.

Maher grinned and nodded.

“He’s not wrong,” he said bluntly.

“You’ve got a great jawline, Governor.

But you use it more for photo ops than leadership.

Gutfeld' on European countries dropping COVID restrictions | Fox News

From that moment on, it was open season.

The two commentators, often seen sparring with each other in other venues, seemingly put aside their ideological differences for one shared purpose: exposing what they both called “Newsom’s national PR stunt.

Gutfeld launched into crime rates in San Francisco, homelessness in LA, and California’s exodus of residents.

“You keep talking about people coming to California, but hundreds of thousands are leaving.

That’s not a success story—that’s a red flag,” he declared.

Maher, in his signature smug-yet-surgical tone, brought up the “elitism” of progressive leadership.

“You want to be President,” he said directly to Newsom, “but you haven’t even fixed the state you’re in.

And voters see that.

They’re not as dumb as your consultants think.

Newsom attempted to defend his record, but every time he tried to pivot to national issues like reproductive rights or Trump-era politics, Maher rolled his eyes and Gutfeld interjected.

“Deflection doesn’t work anymore,” Gutfeld said.

Bill Maher amazed by Greg Gutfeld, 'new king of late night': 'Fox News  found a good thing' | Fox News

“We’re talking about your record, not Trump’s tan line

It was a rare and shocking sight: Bill Maher, a liberal icon, and Greg Gutfeld, Fox News’ sarcastic sniper, essentially agreeing point for point—ripping into Newsom’s policies, his media persona, and his rumored presidential aspirations with the precision of veteran prosecutors.

At one point, Maher delivered the most viral line of the night: “You’re the guy who shows up at a burning house with a selfie stick.

And then blames someone else for the fire.

The moment trended instantly.

Social media lit up with reaction clips, with hashtags like #NewsomDestroyed, #MaherAndGutfeld, and #CaliforniaClapback dominating Twitter/X and TikTok.

Memes flooded in.

One showed Gutfeld and Maher as a WWE tag team with Newsom as their dazed opponent.

Another dubbed the entire segment “the roast of Gavin Newsom, sponsored by common sense.

Even political commentators who typically avoid hyperbole couldn’t ignore it.

CNN Wants Jon Stewart or Bill Maher to Be Its 'Gutfeld!' : r/entertainment

One CNN analyst called it “a rare bipartisan media moment with teeth.

” A conservative blogger declared, “Gutfeld and Maher just gave the American people the 2024 preview they didn’t know they needed.

” Meanwhile, liberal watchdogs warned that Maher “may have just handed conservatives a soundbite arsenal against Newsom’s rumored White House bid.

The real question now: Was this just a TV beatdown, or did it do lasting political damage? Newsom has been slowly positioning himself as a future presidential contender—holding national debates, inserting himself into red-state controversies, and building a public brand as a progressive alternative to Biden fatigue.

But this live segment may have punctured the balloon before it even took off.

Because this wasn’t a partisan ambush.

This was two ideological enemies agreeing that Newsom’s style doesn’t match substance—and saying it to his face.

And no carefully worded press release is going to erase the viral video evidence.

In the aftermath, Newsom’s team has declined to comment, but damage control is already in motion.

Friendly outlets are working overtime to downplay the incident.

But the internet never forgets—and this takedown might just follow Newsom all the way to 2028.