Newsom questioned on whether Montana trip violates travel ban to states with 'anti-LGBTQ+' policies

Governor's office says state didn't pay for trip, "gotcha journalism'

By Dace Potas

Published: July 7, 2022 10:22am

Updated: July 7, 2022 2:20pm

California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom going on vacation this week to visit family in Montana is sparking questions about whether he is violating "state-sponsored travel" to states that have "anti-LGBTQ+" policies.

Montana is one 23 states to which the ban applies and was added to the list in 2021 after prohibiting biological males from competing in women's sports.

"He really is obsessed with red states!" tweeted California GOP Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson, likely referring to Newsom over the July Fourth weekend running a political ad in Florida.

Patterson also suggested in the tweet that Newsom was engaging in "Do as I say, not as I do" behavior, a likely reference to him breaking his administration's own COVID-19 mandates on group gatherings and mask wearing when he attended a lobbyist's party at the height of the pandemic.

Newsom's office says the ban does not apply to the Newsom's Montana visit because the state is not covering the cost.

"The travel ban applies to using state funds," tweeted communications aide Anthony York. "The Governor’s travel is not being paid by the state. Connecting the two is an attempt at gotcha journalism that is neither gotcha nor journalism."

Newsom is scheduled to return over the weekend, according local NBC-TV affiliate KCRA-3.