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California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken another swipe at President Donald Trump, this time over the announcement of a limited-edition United States passport bearing Trump's image.&nbsp;
U.S. officials <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/u-s-state-department-unveils-new-passport-featuring-trumps-portrait-" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">confirmed</a> on April 28 that Trump's image will begin appearing in select passports. The move makes Trump the first sitting U.S. president in American history to be featured on a passport.
The State Department framed the release as a commemorative edition tied to the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. They released a sample image showing Trump superimposed over the Declaration of July 4, 1776, complete with his signature.
<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/solana-co-founder-wants-a-fair-launch-for-trump-corruption-coin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Related: Solana co-founder urges Newsom to use ‘fair launch’ for Trump Corruption coin</a>
<h2 id="newsom-reveals-new-driver-s-license-format">Newsom reveals new driver's license format</h2>
Newsom's press team <a href="https://x.com/GovPressOffice/status/2049333646302355849?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fired back on X </a>with a mock-up of a California driver's licence cheekily emblazoned with Newsom's own photo.
In a full all-caps post like many of Trump's post, the team wrote,
"IN HONOR OF CALIFORNIA’S 175TH ANNIVERSARY, WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT A VERY SPECIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR EVERY CALIFORNIAN THIS SUMMER! IT WILL FEATURE A HANDSOME, HIGH-QUALITY PHOTO OF ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM. MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT’S THE BEST LICENSE EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. THIS IS ABOUT CELEBRATING OUR BEAUTIFUL STATE (IT IS NOT ABOUT ME, DESPITE THE VERY HANDSOME PHOTO!). ENJOY! — GOVERNOR GCN"
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 IN HONOR OF CALIFORNIA’S 175TH ANNIVERSARY, WE WILL BE ROLLING OUT A VERY SPECIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR EVERY CALIFORNIAN THIS SUMMER! IT WILL FEATURE A HANDSOME, HIGH-QUALITY PHOTO OF ME, GAVIN C. NEWSOM. MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING IT’S THE BEST LICENSE EVER MADE IN THE HISTORY OF… <a href="https://t.co/svCAc9oNkw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/svCAc9oNkw</a>— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovPressOffice/status/2049333646302355849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">April 29, 2026</a>
</blockquote>
The Newsom driver's licence is, of course, pure satire.
TheStreet<a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Roundtable</a> reached out to the press team and Trump's press team for additional comments and had not received a response at the time of publication.
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<h2 id="what-is-newsom-s-stance-on-crypto">What is Newsom's stance on crypto?</h2>
Newsom has been gradually formalising California's approach to cryptocurrency, with his most significant recent moves centred on protecting digital asset holders.&nbsp;
He signed <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1052" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">AB 1052</a> into law in October 2025, amending California's Unclaimed Property Law to include digital financial assets, requiring that crypto dormant for three years on custodial platforms be transferred to state custody in its original form rather than being forcibly liquidated or converted to cash.&nbsp;
He followed this up by signing <a href="https://sd13.senate.ca.gov/news/in-the-news/october-23-2025/california-passes-law-to-keep-unclaimed-crypto-in-its-original" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Senate Bill 822</a>, which reinforces that protection, making California the first state in the U.S. to ensure that forgotten crypto holdings cannot quietly disappear through automatic sale.
On the payments front, Newsom is weighing <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1180" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">AB 1180</a>, which would launch a five-year pilot program beginning July 1, 2026, allowing state agencies to accept cryptocurrency for fees and transactions, to be developed and regulated by the state Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.&nbsp;
Separately, a broader <a href="https://dfpi.ca.gov/regulated-industries/digital-financial-assets/digital-financial-assets-law-frequently-asked-questions/digital-financial-assets-law-preparing-for-your-application/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">crypto licensing bill</a> is also making its way through the legislature that, if signed, would require anyone engaging in digital financial asset business activity in California to be licensed by the same department starting July 1, 2026.
Politically, Newsom has used crypto as a tool to needle the Trump administration, announcing plans to launch a meme coin called <a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/solana-co-founder-wants-a-fair-launch-for-trump-corruption-coin" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">"Trump Corruption Coin"</a> to mock the president's own crypto ventures, with proceeds earmarked for his Campaign for Democracy initiatives.
Newsom is broadly pro-innovation but cautious about heavy-handed regulation. He has historically resisted strict oversight bills while quietly building out a legal framework that protects consumers and keeps California competitive as a hub for digital asset companies, as outlined in his original <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/05/04/governor-newsom-signs-blockchain-executive-order-to-spur-responsible-web3-innovation-grow-jobs-and-protect-consumers/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">2022 Blockchain Executive Order.</a>
<a href="https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/markets/trump-is-trolling-california-governor-on-his-official-account" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Related: Trump trolls California Governor Gavin Newsom as meme war heats up</a>

California governor trolls Trump with new driver's license

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