California Governor Gavin Newsom is pushing back against explosive allegations detailed in a newly released book claiming he secretly helped fund a bronze bust of himself now displayed at San Francisco City Hall to commemorate his time as mayor.
As the Tampa Free Press reported, the claim appears in Fool’s Gold: The Radicals, Con Artists, and Traitors Who Killed the California Dream and Now Threaten Us All, authored by Jedd McFatter and Susan Crabtree. The book alleges that Newsom used “behested payments” — a controversial method in which elected officials request donations to nonprofits — to quietly finance the $97,000 monument.
According to the book, donation records show three private organizations contributed to the nonprofit responsible for the statue, including two businesses owned by Newsom himself: Balboa Café Partners and PlumpJack Management Group. Together, they contributed $10,000 toward the bust’s total cost.
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Newsom’s Deputy Director for Rapid Response, Brandon Richards, dismissed the allegations in a statement. “To imply the Governor personally funded or proposed this effort is categorically false,” he said.
However, Richards did confirm that the businesses tied to Newsom made “a modest contribution” to the effort, noting it was not “secret” and that the bust was funded through private donations. He added that First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom helped raise funds for the project — a fact previously reported by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2018, though specific donor information was not included at the time.
The busts of other two-term San Francisco mayors, such as Dianne Feinstein, Willie Brown, and George Moscone, are also on display.
The controversy threatens to undercut Newsom’s national image as he increasingly positions himself as a thought leader within the Democratic Party and a potential 2028 presidential contender. The governor recently launched a new podcast series and has surprised critics by engaging in interviews with prominent conservative figures, including Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon.
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Critics on social media have seized on the bust story, calling it emblematic of “narcissism” and “leftist arrogance.” One post read, “If only he cared half as much about fixing his state as he does about immortalizing his own ego.”
Newsom, who served as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, once told SFGATE that he found the statue effort “awkward,” saying, “I don’t want to call it embarrassing, but it’s a strange thing.”
While Newsom’s office insists that the project followed ethical procedures, the revelations add to growing scrutiny over his legacy, especially as California continues to face challenges including devastating wildfires, homelessness, and a struggling economy.
The bronze bust controversy may prove to be a lasting symbol in the political tug-of-war over Newsom’s ambitions — and his legacy.
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