Hollywood legend Mel Gibson has joined forces with a California recall campaign, taking aim at Governor Gavin Newsom after devastating fires destroyed his home.
Mel Gibson is mad – and Newsom might not survive this.
At a Glance
- Mel Gibson has joined the SavingCalifornia.vote campaign to recall Governor Gavin Newsom
- Gibson lost his home in recent Palisades Fires that killed 29 people
- The actor accused Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass of “gross mismanagement” of the fire response
- Recall organizers have 160 days to collect approximately 15 million signatures to trigger an election
- Newsom’s office claims the recall effort exploits fire victims and wastes taxpayer money
Gibson Takes Stand After Losing Home
Mel Gibson, who recently lost his home in the devastating Palisades Fire, has thrown his support behind efforts to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom. The Oscar-winning director and actor appeared at a news conference with the Saving California group to voice his frustration over the state’s handling of the fires that ravaged Southern California, killing 29 people and destroying countless homes, including his own.
Gibson did not hold back in his criticism of both Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. The Hollywood icon questioned whether the devastation could have been prevented had officials acted more responsibly before the fires spread out of control. His involvement brings rare celebrity firepower to a conservative-led recall campaign in a state where most entertainment figures typically lean left.
Following the LA wildfires, efforts were renewed to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom over his handling of the fires. Actor Mel Gibson is now joining in on that effort after having lost his Malibu home. https://t.co/bOqI5jwJXV
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) February 27, 2025
“Criminal Negligence” Claims
During his appearance with recall organizers, Gibson leveled serious accusations against California’s leadership. The actor, who was recently appointed as a Special Ambassador to Hollywood by President Donald Trump, made it clear he believes the disaster response represents a fundamental failure of governance that demands accountability and change.
“We deserve much more and much better, and 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,” Mel Gibson said.
He’s not wrong.
Gibson also called for federal oversight if any federal aid is provided to California, suggesting that current leadership cannot be trusted to use resources appropriately. His comments reflect growing frustration among many Californians dealing with multiple crises including homelessness, fentanyl abuse, and skyrocketing housing costs, all while paying some of the nation’s highest taxes.
Actor Mel Gibson has joined efforts to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom following the LA wildfires, which destroyed his Malibu home.https://t.co/YvlseIBP4t
— GV Wire • News (@GVWire) February 27, 2025
The SavingCalifornia.vote organization now has 160 days to collect approximately 15 million signatures to trigger a recall election. This marks the second major recall attempt against Newsom, who previously survived a 2021 recall election. Randy Economy, Chairman of the recall campaign, claims Newsom has become disconnected from the struggles of everyday Californians.
Newsom’s office has dismissed the recall effort as politically motivated exploitation of fire victims. In a statement, the Governor’s team claimed the campaign diverts resources that could be used for emergency response and recovery efforts. Some attendees at Gibson’s appearance reportedly suggested the actor himself should consider running for Governor, though Gibson has not indicated any interest in seeking political office.
