Newsom, who served as San Francisco’s mayor from 2004 to 2011, reportedly orchestrated the funding for a commemorative bust in City Hall through behested payments—a type of donation where political figures request contributions from donors for specific projects.

According to a new book by Jedd McFatter and Susan Crabtree, Newsom directed donations from three private organizations—including two companies he owns—to finance the $97,000 monument.

His companies, Balboa Cafe Partners and PlumpJack Management Group, contributed a combined $10,000 to a nonprofit that earmarked funds for the “Mayoral Bust at San Francisco City Hall.”

While the project was underway, Newsom publicly admitted that he felt uneasy about it but downplayed his involvement.

In an interview with SFGATE at the time, he remarked, “I don’t want to call it embarrassing, but it’s a strange thing… I’m just awkward about it. But now the word is out.”

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Originally, reports indicated that “Newsom supporters” had privately funded the monument, but the recent book claims he was personally involved in securing the funds.

The revelation has drawn backlash, with critics accusing Newsom of self-obsession and misplaced priorities.

“Now I know what a narcissist is,” one commenter wrote.

Another added, “This is peak leftist arrogance—worshiping their own failures while everyday Californians suffer under their disastrous policies.”

Handling of California’s Crises

Meanwhile, Newsom’s leadership has come under scrutiny for his handling of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which have claimed at least 29 lives and destroyed over 18,000 structures.

As California works to recover from the widespread destruction, critics argue that Newsom’s focus seems to be elsewhere, with his new podcast and political ambitions taking center stage instead of crisis management.

Despite the mounting criticism, Newsom remains a formidable figure in Democratic politics. With his term as governor ending in 2026, all signs point to a presidential run in 2028.

Gavin Newsom fires back at the reports

California Governor Gavin Newsom has dismissed a striking allegation that he secretly financed a bronze bust of himself for display at San Francisco City Hall to honor his tenure as mayor.

“To imply the Governor personally funded or proposed this effort is categorically false,” said Brandon Richards, Deputy Director for Rapid Response for Governor Gavin Newsom, in a statement to DailyMail.com.