Legendary Actor Joins Growing Effort To Recall Gavin Newsom

Mel Gibson, who was recently appointed as one of President Donald Trump’s special ambassadors to Hollywood, has thrown his support behind the latest campaign to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. The move comes in the wake of the catastrophic and fatal wildfires in Los Angeles.

During a press conference organized by Saving California in Altadena on Wednesday, the famed actor voiced his involvement with the group spearheading this recall initiative.

“There is absolutely no adequate excuse the governor or mayor can make for this gross mismanagement and failure to preemptively deal with what they knew was coming,” Gibson said Wednesday.

“Newsom, since he’s been in—whatever you call it—office, has brought us nothing but rampant crime, acute homelessness, horrendous inflation … He’s made it untenable for people to make a living here.”

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A fresh campaign to recall California Governor Newsom was recently launched, fueled mainly by dissatisfaction with his administration’s response to the catastrophic wildfires that recently swept through Los Angeles. The movement to oust Newsom was given the green light to start gathering signatures for a petition.

The organizers need to collect roughly 15 million signatures within 160 days to prompt a recall election. The governor’s office has criticized the recall as frivolous and costly, accusing its backers of capitalizing on the plight of wildfire victims for their political agenda.

This represents the eighth attempt to recall Newsom since he assumed office six years ago. A similar recall effort in 2021 culminated in an election where 62% of voters chose to keep him in office.

Hanford, California, USA – July 14, 2021: A sign hangs on a farm cart in support of Recalling California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The current recall drive mirrors discontent over issues such as homelessness, the fentanyl crisis, and soaring housing costs.

Gibson’s Malibu mansion, his home of nearly 15 years, was completely destroyed in the fires earlier this year. “I thought, I wonder if my place is still there,” Gibson told NewsNation in January. “But when I got home, sure enough, it wasn’t there.”

The Eaton Fire and Palisades Fire, both igniting on January 7, devastated Los Angeles County, burning over 37,000 acres and leaving widespread destruction. The Eaton Fire, near Altadena and Pasadena, burned 14,021 acres, destroying 9,418 structures, damaging 1,073, and resulting in 17 civilian fatalities, according to Cal Fire.

In January, President Trump appointed actors, including Gibson, as “Special Ambassadors” to Hollywood.

CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 21, 2016: Actor Mel Gibson at the photocall for “Blood Father” at the 69th Festival de Cannes.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department eventually gained control of the fires, while Cal OES oversaw recovery efforts, including evacuation shelters and public health resources. The Palisades Fire, southeast of Palisades Drive in Pacific Palisades, consumed 23,448 acres, destroying 6,833 structures, damaging 973, and causing 12 civilian fatalities.

The Los Angeles City Fire Department led containment. Both fires reached containment, but recovery efforts remain critical, with federal aid, disaster recovery centers established, and continued mitigation efforts. Evacuation shelters were created for refuge for displaced residents, while road and state park closures persisted due to ongoing hazards.

Emergency response teams, totaling over 800 personnel, worked tirelessly to suppress the fires as California endured another season of destructive wildfires.