California Governor Gavin Newsom has denied claims that he helped fund a nearly $100,000 bronze bust of himself in San Francisco City Hall, calling the allegations “categorically false.” According to Newsom’s office, the effort to create the bust was independently proposed by a nonprofit and funded by private donors, not taxpayers. A new book titled “Fool’s Gold” claims that Newsom used “behested payments” to help fund the statue, with two companies owned by Newsom reportedly donating about $10,000 to a nonprofit for this purpose.
Newsom, who served as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011, stated that businesses tied to his family made a modest contribution to the initiative and raised funds for the effort publicly. In 2015, Newsom referred to the bust as a “strange thing,” admitting that he was awkward about it but claiming that the statue was the brainchild of his supporters and would be paid for with private funds. The artist behind the bronze bust, Bruce Wolfe, worked with Newsom on the project for several years before its completion in 2018.
Despite Newsom’s denial, the new book “Fool’s Gold” stands by its reporting on the funding of the statue. The bust includes a plaque with a quote from Newsom about love and the essence of life. Newsom’s office criticized the book, likening it to conspiracy theories and claiming that the authors were allergic to basic facts. The bust of Newsom sits alongside those of other former San Francisco mayors, including Willie Brown, Dianne Feinstein, and George Moscone.
The public reaction to Newsom’s bust has been mixed, with many expressing disdain for the Governor’s perceived self-indulgence. Critics have called the bust a “Newscum Vanity Project” and questioned the appropriateness of a politician commissioning a statue of themselves. Newsom, however, remains a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and is seen as a potential future presidential candidate. He previously served as a surrogate for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris during their 2024 campaign and is considered a top contender for the 2028 presidential race.
