California Governor Gavin Newsom found himself on defense Thursday after actress Halle Berry publicly tore into him during her appearance at the New York Times DealBook summit, accusing the Democrat governor of repeatedly dismissing women’s healthcare needs and warning he should not be considered for the presidency. Hours later, a TMZ reporter confronted Newsom at Newark International Airport, where he attempted to downplay the criticism and insisted the issue was being “reconciled.”
Berry had stunned the DealBook audience earlier in the day with unusually direct remarks aimed at Newsom. “Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one, but two years in a row,” she said. Berry then took a swipe at Newsom’s national ambitions. “He’s not going to be governor forever, and the way he has overlooked women, half the population, by devaluing us, he probably should not be our next president either. Just saying.”
The legislation Berry referenced, AB 432, would mandate specific menopause care coverage and require additional professional training on the issue. Newsom vetoed the bill twice, most recently in October. The sharp criticism from a major Hollywood figure—one typically aligned with Democrats—sent political reverberations through California and Washington, where many expect Newsom to position himself for a 2028 presidential run once his term ends in 2026.
Caught at the airport, Newsom attempted to smooth things over, telling TMZ that he had been in contact with Berry’s manager and that “we’re reconciling that.” He claimed the actress was unaware that he has now included the bill in next year’s state budget despite having vetoed it twice. “I’ve included it in the budget next year. She didn’t know that,” Newsom said.
What Newsom did not clarify, however, was whether Berry’s public rebuke played any role in the sudden shift. California critics have long accused the governor of prioritizing political image over policy consistency, and Berry’s remarks risked damaging his carefully curated national profile.
Newsom’s office attempted a similar defense in October, claiming the governor supports the concept of the bill but had to veto it because of cost concerns. “He vetoed the bill because, as written, it would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women already stretched thin — something he’s determined to avoid,” said spokesman Izzy Gardon. He added that Newsom wants to pass it in 2026.
The messaging from the governor’s team raises questions about why a bill deemed important enough to include in a future budget could not be reworked in cooperation with lawmakers rather than vetoed twice. For Berry, the issue represents a broader frustration: that women’s healthcare—especially menopause care—is too often sidelined by political leaders who later position themselves as national champions of equity.
Whether Newsom’s post-criticism pivot amounts to genuine support or political damage control remains unclear. But Berry’s remarks hit a nerve, prompting the governor to address an issue he twice rejected—and forcing him to engage with criticism from a Hollywood ally turned outspoken detractor.
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