Katie Miller tagged Gov. Gavin Newsom on X and called California a “hellhole,” prompting a sarcastic reply from Newsom’s press office with scenic photos of the state. Miller replied with images of tents and wildfire smoke, repeating the insult. The exchange also drew attention to her new podcast, which launched this summer and has featured guests such as Senator J.D. Vance, Pam Bondi and Elon Musk. Audience numbers have varied widely across episodes.
Katie Miller’s ‘Hellhole’ Post Sparks Public Feud With Gov. Gavin Newsom — And Highlights Her New Podcast
Dec 11
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Katie Miller publicly attacked California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday morning, tagging him in an NBC News story about a California-based social media influencer charged with rape and intent to rape.
Miller and the California governor faced off on X. / X
Back-and-Forth on X
The aspiring podcaster, who previously worked at the White House alongside her husband, former White House aide Stephen Miller, wrote on X: “California is a hellhole thanks to Gavin Newsom.” Newsom’s press office responded with four scenic photos showing the Golden Gate Bridge, redwood forests, farmland and coastline — a sarcastic rebuttal to Miller’s charge. Miller then posted two images: a crowded street corner with tents and an aerial shot of wildfire smoke, repeating the single-word verdict, “‘Hellhole.’”
Miller took aim at the state of the Golden State on X. / X
Timing And Promotion
Observers noted the timing of Miller’s post may also draw attention to The Katie Miller Podcast, which she launched this summer after leaving the White House in May and following a brief stint working for Elon Musk. Miller has described the show as a conservative counterpart to popular culture podcasts, but many early guests have been figures associated with the Trump era.
Musk was forced to stave off rumors that he was having an affair with Katie. / Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag
Guests And Audience
Her debut episode featured U.S. Senator J.D. Vance. Other guests have included former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, conservative commentator Pete Hegseth, TV anchor Sage Steele, Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman, and Elon Musk. Viewership has varied: Vance’s episode drew roughly 84,000 views; Sage Steele’s episode attracted about 5,500 views; and Adena Friedman’s interview recorded about 1,800 views, the lowest to date. The Musk interview surpassed Hegseth’s week-long total in just six hours.
“It’s so much harder to start your own thing than you think it is,” Miller said on a podcast last month. “You hope that people tune in and care what you have to say… and some of my episodes do much better than others.”
Earlier Criticism Of Newsom
This incident is not Miller’s first public criticism of Newsom. In September, on Tomi Lahren’s podcast, she defended the White House Rose Garden — whose recent redesign some critics compared to former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago — after Newsom mocked it on X. Miller called Newsom’s commentary hypocritical and framed her remarks around broader partisan grievances.
The Daily Beast has reached out to Newsom’s representatives for comment.
