Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized a recent Vogue profile of California Governor Gavin Newsom during an interview with Megyn Kelly, comparing its glowing language to Soviet-era propaganda.

Vance dismissed the article’s opening description of Newsom as “embarrassingly handsome, his hair seasoned with silver, at ease with his own eminence” and further praise calling him “lithe, ardent, energetic, a glimmer of optimism in his eye; Kennedy-esque.” He told Kelly, “Completely unbiased reporting. That is like something out of Pravda. That’s what Pravda would have written about Stalin. It’s crazy.”

Vogue on Newsom:

"Embarrassingly handsome.

Kennedy-esque. A glimmer of optimism in his eye.

At ease with his own eminence."

Vance:

"That's what Pravda would have written about Stalin."

California is crumbling while its governor gets glamour puff pieces…

Source:… https://t.co/Tu38A2TwJo pic.twitter.com/kgcEOj9q6k

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 5, 2026

The Vogue piece, featuring photographs by Annie Leibovitz, presents an admiring portrait of Newsom as he promotes his new memoir, Young Man in a Hurry. The article highlights his physical presence, family life, political maneuvering against former President Trump, and personal background, including his struggles with dyslexia and a childhood marked by contrasts between financial precarity and connections to wealthy figures like the Getty family. It frames him as a poised, ambitious leader positioning himself for a potential 2028 presidential run, while touching on his policy views on affordability, progressive taxation, and Democratic priorities.

Vance, who said he does not make a habit of reading Vogue or coverage of Newsom, responded to Kelly’s reading of the lead lines by questioning whether the magazine would offer him similar treatment, calling it “completely unbiased reporting” in a sarcastic tone before drawing the Pravda-Stalin parallel.

The exchange served as a segue into speculation about a possible 2028 matchup between Newsom and Vance or others in the Trump administration orbit. Vance downplayed any focus on future ambitions, emphasizing the need to prioritize current responsibilities. He said, “We’ll see. I’ll give you the answer I’ve given to others, Megan, which is: it’s so far in the future. The truth is, if we take care of business, the politics in 2028 will figure itself out. If we don’t take care of business, no amount of salesmanship will change that.” He stressed the importance of delivering results on reinvesting in America and rebuilding the middle class, adding that fixating on personal political advancement could undermine that goal. “You have to do a good job at the job you have now,” Vance continued. “Hopefully in 2–4 years, the American people will say, ‘We want another term of this agenda. We don’t want to go back to the crazy woke Democrats. We want to double down on reinvesting in America, on rebuilding the middle class.’”

Vance described how obsessing over 2028 positioning would be “warping and bad for the American people,” as it might lead to decisions that prioritize personal gain over public wins. “I have to focus on this job or I’ll hurt people who depend on me,” he said.

The comments come amid heightened political attention on potential future contenders, as the Trump administration advances its agenda early in the term and figures like Newsom remain visible through media appearances and publications. The Vogue profile has drawn criticism from some quarters for its effusive tone, underscoring ongoing partisan divides in how media outlets cover prominent Democrats and Republicans.