Jennifer Siebel Newsom, wife of California Governor Gavin Newsom, has ignited political debate after interrupting her husband's press conference at a Planned Parenthood event last week. She took over the podium to chastise reporters for not asking questions about what she termed the 'war on women' in the United States.
'This happens over and over and over again. You wonder why we have such a horrific war on women in this country, and that these guys are getting away with it. Because you don't seem to care,' Siebel Newsom said, adding 'with love' to soften her remarks.
In a recent Marie Claire profile, Siebel Newsom discussed her testimony against Harvey Weinstein, whom she accused of raping her in 2005. Although the statute of limitations had passed, she testified to support other victims. She described the experience as revealing 'the myriad of ways we silence women's voices' and fuelling her advocacy for policies that 'can hear women, that can believe women.'
She also spoke about the childhood trauma of losing her eight-year-old sister Stacey in a golf cart accident days before her seventh birthday. 'I think that's what trauma does, and sexual assault does, and losing my sister did, is you feel very alone,' she said, crediting 'the sisterhood' for giving her hope.
The incident has drawn criticism from conservatives, including actor Dean Cain, who called her 'INCREDIBLY unlikeable' on social media. Despite this, Siebel Newsom appears supportive of her husband's potential 2028 presidential bid, calling it 'an incredible platform' for women's issues. Governor Newsom has a book due out next week, a common precursor to a presidential campaign.
