Trump takes heat from right for saying he didn't 'hit' Newsom because Calif gov said nice things about him

Trump said Newsom was 'very nice to me, relatively speaking'

Adam Shaw | Fox News 

Former President Donald Trump is receiving criticism from some on the right in the wake of comments he made in which he said he "could never hit" California Gov. Gavin Newsom because the liberal Democrat was "so nice to me."

"You have a very ambitious guy in California, but he’s done a terrible job with the state," Trump, who is also a 2024 presidential candidate, said in an interview on Fox News’ "Tucker Carlson Tonight." "I used to get along great with him when I was president. Got along really good ... Gavin."

"You got along with Gavin Newsom?" Carlson asked.

"I did. I really did. He was always very nice to me, said the greatest things. He would say things like, ‘He's doing a great job.’"

"About you?" Carlson said.

"About me, that's why I could never hit him because he was so nice to me, just laying in wait right?" Trump said. "But he was very nice to me, relatively speaking." Read more, see tweets and videos here.