Gavin Newsom expresses regret over California COVID-19 policies

California Governor Gavin Newsom expressed regret regarding certain aspects of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper. Speaking while fly-fishing, Newsom stated that the decision to close beaches was “insane in hindsight.”

Newsom also addressed the timing of school reopenings, noting that he regrets that large districts, specifically Los Angeles, took too long to reopen. Regarding a past controversy where he attended a restaurant dinner that violated pandemic protocols, Newsom described the incident as a “boneheaded” and “stupid decision” made while he was exhausted.

Critics have characterized these admissions as political expediency rather than genuine remorse, pointing to the influence of teachers' unions and the governor's previous defense of strict stay-at-home orders and outdoor recreation bans.