Newsom Receives Mock FIFA Peace Prize from Kimmel, Recounts Unusual Trump Phone Call
California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, March 4, 2026, to discuss his new memoir, Young Man In a Hurry, and his ongoing dynamic with former President Donald Trump. The interview culminated in Kimmel presenting Newsom with a satirical trophy mirroring the “FIFA Peace Prize” previously bestowed upon Trump.
A Playful Mockery
Host Jimmy Kimmel gifted Newsom with the “2026 FIFA Skydance Paramount Netflix Warner Bros Big Ass Lipton Cup O Peace,” playfully acknowledging Trump’s earlier receipt of a similar, invented award in December. The trophy, described as “plated with platinum that was ethically sourced from all my expired Amex cards,” by Josh Meyers, impersonating Newsom, also contained a magnum of wine. Newsom responded to the presentation with a jab at Trump, stating, “Eat your heart out Donald!”
Recalling a Bizarre Phone Conversation
During the interview, Newsom recounted a peculiar phone call with Trump that occurred the night before the former president mobilized the National Guard to Los Angeles. Newsom described Trump initiating the conversation with a nickname, asking, “Hey, hey, Gav, Gav, what do you think of New Scum?” Newsom responded by explaining the nickname was not original, recalling it being used by an eighth-grade bully.
The conversation continued with Trump inquiring about the sales of “MAGA” hats, reportedly stating he sold 211 hats the previous month. Newsom expressed disbelief at the topic of discussion, questioning whether the conversation was serious. He noted the exchange occurred approximately 12 hours before Trump announced he had “read me the riot act” and federalized the National Guard.
Newsom on Trump and Democratic Strategy
Newsom emphasized the require for Democrats to adopt a more assertive approach in challenging Trump and the Republican party. “We’ve got to be tougher,” Newsom stated. “We’ve got to be more aggressive and call this stuff out. We’ll lose our country.”
Newsom has previously employed humor as a strategy to counter Trump’s rhetoric, explaining in a September interview on The Late Show that traditional methods of breaking through the media landscape were no longer effective. He noted that his approach had unexpectedly garnered attention and provoked a response from the former president.