It started as a jab and quickly turned into a headline: California Governor Gavin Newsom’s team has given Vice President J.D. Vance a new nickname—“Just Dance Vance.”
The phrase lit up social media over the weekend, with supporters and critics weighing in. Some laughed, some rolled their eyes, but everyone seemed to be asking the same question: What’s going on here?
Let’s break it down.
The nickname came from Newsom’s press team and was posted on the social media site X (formerly Twitter). It’s a play on Vance’s initials—J.D.—and the video game “Just Dance,” suggesting he’s just following orders or not being taken seriously. The post was written in all capital letters, mimicking the way President Trump often writes his online messages.
But why target Vance now?
The post was in response to Vance’s recent trip to Indianapolis. He was there discussing efforts to redraw the state’s congressional map—basically, how voting districts are shaped. This is a big deal because changing these maps can affect which party has more power in Congress. The Trump administration is encouraging Republican-led states like Indiana and Texas to redraw their maps to add more GOP seats before the 2026 midterm elections.
That’s where the drama starts.
Democrats are calling these map changes unfair and dangerous. In Texas, Democrats even left the state earlier this year to try to block a similar plan. Protests erupted across the country, with activists calling the redistricting move a “Trump takeover.”
Newsom, a Democrat and frequent Trump critic, seized the moment. In his mocking post, he wrote: “NOT EVEN JD ‘JUST DANCE’ VANCE CAN SAVE TRUMP FROM THE DISASTROUS MAPS ‘WAR’ HE HAS STARTED.” He didn’t stop there. He also took a swipe at Vance’s appearance and praised himself in an over-the-top way, saying people now call him “Gavin Christopher ‘Columbus’ Newsom” because of his own state’s map lines.
Yes, really.
This post is part of a strange new trend: Gavin Newsom is now using Trump’s own style against him. That means giving people nicknames, writing in all caps, and bragging in exaggerated ways. It’s trolling, plain and simple—but with a political edge.
The feud between Trump and Newsom isn’t new. It got worse earlier this year when President Trump sent thousands of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. The goal was to stop protests over his mass deportation policy. Newsom opposed the move and even sued the federal government, saying Trump was acting like a dictator. A trial already took place, and a judge is expected to rule soon.
So, when Newsom mocks Trump or his VP, it’s not just for laughs—it’s part of a bigger political fight.
Meanwhile, Newsom is also warning that if Republican states change their election maps, California might do the same. That would mean more districts drawn to benefit Democrats, possibly canceling out the GOP’s gains. It’s a kind of political tit-for-tat: you redraw your maps, we’ll redraw ours.
When asked about his mocking posts, Newsom said he’s just doing what Trump has done for years. “If you have issues with what I’m putting out, you sure as hell should have concerns with what he’s putting out as president,” he told reporters.
The White House fired back through spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, who said, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but Newscum’s obsession is getting a little creepy at this point. Gavin will never be ready for primetime!”
So what’s next?
Newsom’s term as governor ends next year, and there are rumors he might run for president. That would make this online war with Trump more than just name-calling—it could be early signs of a 2028 showdown.
But for now, the nickname “Just Dance Vance” is just the latest jab in a growing political fight over maps, power, and the future of Congress. Whether it sticks or not, one thing is clear: the battle between Trump’s team and Gavin Newsom is only heating up.