Lately there’s been a lot of talk about Governor Gavin Newsom positioning himself for a national stage. Almost every day, he tells us how bad Donald Trump has been.
As a builder, I see the world differently. Builders and politicians approach problems in completely opposite ways — one focuses on results, the other on rhetoric.
Builders See Problems and Say, “Let’s Fix This — Now.”
When a builder faces an issue, they bring in the people who can solve it. They don’t care about political opinions, race, or ideology. What matters is knowledge, competence, and commitment to a clear timeline. Builders live by deadlines, budgets, and accountability.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower once said:
“Farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil and you’re a thousand miles from the cornfield.”
That same truth applies to building and governing. It’s easy to talk about problems from behind a podium; it’s far harder to pour concrete, meet a deadline, and deliver something that stands. Builders are judged by what gets completed — not by how long they can talk about it.
Politicians See Problems and Say, “Let’s Keep This Front and Center.”
A politician’s instinct is often to keep an issue alive because it keeps them in the spotlight. The problem becomes the platform. Emotion replaces logic; publicity replaces progress.
A builder fixes the problem and moves on.
A politician keeps the problem alive so they can keep talking about it.
From a builder’s standpoint, President Trump’s actions reflect timelines and measurable goals: Action from Day One: On January 20, 2025, he launched a series of executive actions to “kick off America’s Golden Age.”
Results Over Rhetoric: He emphasized manufacturing revitalization, deregulation, trade reform, and job creation — all tied to deliverables and schedules.
“Made in USA” Focus: Multi-billion-dollar industrial investments designed to bring work back home.
Ending Endless Wars: He pledged to end unnecessary foreign wars and rebuild America’s strength at home.
Accountability on Cost: He called California’s high-speed rail “the worst cost overrun I’ve ever seen,” refusing to fund uncontrolled spending.
You may not agree with every decision, but from a builder’s lens you see momentum, deadlines, and visible results — traits that belong to doers, not talkers.
The Politician’s Playbook
Governor Newsom’s leadership style tells a different story.
Big Promises, Few Completions
He has announced ambitious plans — high-speed rail, zero-emission goals, and statewide transit networks — but without clear deadlines or cost controls. Builders deliver; politicians announce.
When Newsom took office, California had a $97.5 billion surplus.
Today, the state faces a deficit exceeding $30 billion. In just a few years, California went from overflowing coffers to cutting budgets.
His fiscal plans add nearly $16 billion in new taxes and fees from 2024 to 2029 — the opposite of what any builder would call responsible cost management.
After the Los Angeles wildfires, Newsom and the Mayor promised to “fast-track” rebuilding permits. Yet little has changed. Bureaucracy still blocks progress. Builders fix problems; politicians preserve them — because the problem itself keeps them relevant.
People and Businesses Leaving
Since 2020, more than 500,000 Californians have moved out. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, about 400,000 left while only 250,000 moved in — a net loss of nearly 150,000 residents.
Over 350 companies have relocated to other states, driven away by taxes, regulation, and cost of living. People and businesses are voting with their feet — and that’s a scoreboard no politician can spin.
The Decline of Great Cities
San Francisco, once a crown jewel, has lost more than 60,000 residents and is plagued by crime and vacancies. Newsom argues that some red states have higher crime rates, than San Francisco but he never mentions that in those red states, it’s the blue cities that inflate the numbers. That’s selective storytelling — something politicians do well.
Winston Churchill once said:
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”
A builder looks at results. A politician looks for the next press conference.
Builders don’t just talk about problems — they set timelines, bring in experts, measure progress, and finish the job. Politicians, by contrast, keep the problem alive, make the struggle part of their identity, and leave the outcome open-ended.
Trump acts like a builder: deadlines, accountability, and visible completion.
Newsom acts like a politician: grand visions, higher taxes, and endless regulation.
A builder’s motto is simple: “Get it done. Settle it. Move on.”
One approach operates on clear costs and deadlines.
The other runs on open checkbooks and shifting excuses.
So, when you hear Gavin Newsom talk about running for president, look at California — and you’ll see what a politician can do to one of the most beautiful states in America.
