Gavin Newsom says Trump's federal indictment is 'sad,' praises former president's COVID response

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom says the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump is "sad" and that he had an "incredible" relationship with the former president during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking about Trump's indictment for allegedly mishandling classified documents during an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that aired Monday, Newsom said: "It was sad – and I say that as an American." 

Newsom also praised Trump's response to the pandemic.

"I didn't have a closed fist, I had an open hand. We actually had an incredible relationship during COVID," the California Democrat said. "He was incredible – he played no politics during COVID with California – none whatsoever. It's a fact."

Newsom added that he received criticism from some people in his own party for not attacking Trump during the pandemic.

The governor also commented on photographs that surfaced during the pandemic of him and his wife Jennifer eating at the French Laundry, an upscale Napa Valley restaurant, while many people in California were under strict COVID restrictions.

"It was a dumb – it was a terrible mistake," Newsom said during the interview. "It wasn't illegal, it was wrong. And I totally violated the spirit of what I was preaching. And it was wrong. And I own that."

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.