Conservative influencer Benny Johnson escalated his online clash with California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, firing back after the governor’s press office mocked him with a joke about Grindr servers amid a dispute over alleged fraud in California.
“So your response to evidence of mass fraud in California is to accuse me of cheating on my wife?” Johnson wrote on X. “I have never cheated on my wife. We’ve been together for nearly 20 years.” Johnson then accused Newsom of deflecting from policy issues with personal attacks.
Johnson followed with pointed references to Newsom’s past admitted affair with a staffer during his time as San Francisco mayor and raised questions about Newsom’s wife’s past professional connection to Harvey Weinstein, as well as donor Ed Buck. “Ya, you should sit this one out,” Johnson wrote.
The exchange began after Johnson said he would travel to California to “investigate fraud,” prompting a sarcastic response from the governor’s press office on X.
The fraud uncovered in Minnesota was very bad and led to the destruction of Tim Walz’s career,” Johnson wrote. “But Gavin Newsom’s California is far worse.”
Newsom’s press office fired back with a snide post: “We’ll make sure Grindr servers are ready…” — a remark widely seen as a jab at Johnson’s personal life. The comment echoed recent allegations from provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, who claimed Johnson’s public “family man” persona was a façade and that he Johnson is a closeted gay man. Johnson has denied the claims and said he plans to sue.
The social media slugfest unfolded as President Donald Trump declared that a “fraud investigation of California has begun,” branding the state “more corrupt than Minnesota” in a Truth Social post.
The Post reached out to the governor’s office for comment on Johnson’s latest remarks, including whether state resources or taxpayer-funded staff were used to respond to the social media exchange, but we did not receive a real response.
