Aide dispels bad booster reaction rumor on Newsom
Governor planning public events this week
Gov. Gavin Newsom has made himself such a visible presence running the Golden State that his sudden decision last month to back out of a trip to Scotland for a United Nations conference on one of his pet issues, climate change, and lack of public appearances since, has set off speculation that something’s amiss.
Not so, his office insists, saying he’ll be back in the spotlight this week to talk about the economy.
“Last week Governor Newsom worked in the Capitol with staff on urgent issues including COVID-19 vaccines for kids, boosters, ports, the forthcoming state budget and California’s continued economic recovery,” said Press Secretary Daniel Lopez. “He will have public events this week related to the economy and vaccines.”
When the governor canceled his trip to Scotland, where he was to travel with his wife, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the Associated Press reported Oct. 29 that his office said it was due to “family obligations.” Vogue reported Monday that he attended a Getty heir’s Nov. 6 wedding in San Francisco.
The Sacramento Bee reported that the Newsoms had planned to be in Scotland Nov. 1 through Nov. 3, and that his office announced three days before they were to leave that they weren’t going. The Bee said Newsom would participate remotely and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis would travel in his place.
But with Newsom uncharacteristically unseen as federal regulators last week greenlighted vaccines for kids 5-11, #wheresgavin and #wheresgavinnewsom began trending on Twitter, his wife struck back in a since-deleted Sunday tweet.
“It’s funny how certain folks can’t handle truth,” Siebel Newsom tweeted. “When someone cancels something, maybe they’re just in the office working; maybe in their free time they’re at home with their family, at their kids’ sports matches, or dining out with their wife. Please stop hating and get a life.”
But that only fueled more speculation Monday that perhaps Newsom was recovering from an adverse reaction to the booster shot he got at his last public event.
“Given the rumors swirling around about the timing of his disappearance (right after getting the booster), I hope he emerges soon to explain his absence, and I hope that’s he’s healthy,” tweeted state Sen. Melissa Melendez, a Republican representing the Riverside County area.
Silicon Valley entrepreneur and vaccine skeptic Steve Kirsch theorized the governor must have come down with Bell’s Palsy, a sudden weakness in muscles of half the face, after his booster shot.
“No events were canceled,” Lopez said Monday, “as a result of his booster shot.”
“Given the rumors swirling around about the timing of his disappearance (right after getting the booster), I hope he emerges soon to explain his absence, and I hope that’s he’s healthy.”