Mark Ruffalo is torching California Governor Gavin Newsom over the Democrat’s decision to back a ballot measure that would block new wealth taxes on the state’s billionaires.
The Marvel star accused Newsom of putting the ultra-rich ahead of working families — again. The confrontation represents the latest flashpoint in an ongoing battle over tax policy in California, where debates about wealth inequality and revenue generation have intensified as the state grapples with budget challenges and growing demands for public services.
“ONCE AGAIN. JUST LIKE THE PARAMOUNT MERGER GAVIN NEWSOM DOES WHAT HE ALWAYS DOES. SELLS OUT THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE FOR THE BILLIONAIRES AGAIN AND AGAIN.”
Newsom endorsed Prop 42, a ballot measure designed to prevent any new state wealth tax from hitting California’s richest residents. The proposition has emerged as a key battleground between those who argue California needs constitutional protections against aggressive taxation and progressive advocates who believe the state’s wealthiest residents should contribute more to address inequality and fund essential services.
In a statement, the governor said he fears such taxes would threaten retirement savings for ordinary Californians. His position reflects a broader concern among some Democrats that poorly designed wealth taxes could have unintended consequences for middle-class families who have built modest nest eggs through home ownership, 401(k) accounts, and other investments.
“I am proud to stand with firefighters, blue-collar unions, veterans, seniors, and small businesses in support of Prop 42,” Newsom said. “We all agree that Californians deserve to have their retirement and life savings protected from new state taxes so those savings are there when they need them.”
Ruffalo wasn’t buying it.
The actor slammed Newsom on X Wednesday, writing that the governor “endorses a bill that will make it impossible to tax the wealthy at all.” His critique echoes arguments from progressive economists and activists who contend that Prop 42 is designed specifically to shield billionaires and ultra-wealthy individuals from future attempts at tax reform, effectively creating a permanent loophole that would constrain California’s ability to address wealth concentration.
This isn’t the first time Ruffalo has gone after Newsom. The tensions between the actor and the governor have been building over several months, reflecting deeper ideological divisions within California’s Democratic coalition about corporate power, economic policy, and the influence of wealthy donors on political decision-making.
The Avengers star accused the governor of betraying Hollywood workers when Newsom backed the Paramount–Warner Brothers Discovery merger in September. Ruffalo called that deal a “huge win to Trump.” That controversy centered on concerns about media consolidation and its potential impact on jobs in California’s entertainment industry, a sector that employs hundreds of thousands of workers across the state.
He also ripped Newsom earlier this month for vetoing a state AI safety bill, calling the veto “a mistake” in an op-ed for TIME magazine and urging the public to “follow the money” when analyzing Newsom’s decisions. The AI legislation had been supported by tech workers and safety advocates but opposed by major Silicon Valley companies, raising questions about the governor’s relationship with the technology sector.
The back-and-forth highlights a growing rift between progressive Hollywood activists and California’s most powerful Democrat. As Newsom positions himself as a pragmatic leader who balances progressive values with business-friendly policies, he faces increasing criticism from the party’s left flank, which views his approach as too accommodating to corporate interests and wealthy donors.
Ruffalo — a vocal left-wing voice in entertainment — is framing Newsom as a politician who talks progressive but governs for the donor class. This narrative has gained traction among activists who point to California’s persistent homelessness crisis, affordability challenges, and wealth gap as evidence that the state’s leadership has failed to enact truly transformative economic policies.
Newsom’s campaign says Prop 42 protects middle-class retirement accounts from future tax grabs. Ruffalo says it protects billionaires from ever paying their fair share. The fundamental disagreement reflects competing visions for California’s economic future and the role of taxation in addressing inequality. The ballot measure heads to voters this November.
Once again. Just like the Paramount Merger Gavin Newsom does what he always does. Sells out the working class people for the billionaires again and again. Not only that but endorses a bill that will make it impossible to tax the wealthy at all.https://t.co/YCLE9ZrYnJ
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 14, 2026
Gavin Newsom hands huge win to Trump and his billionaire cronies. https://t.co/G7GCPHnbcz
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) September 21, 2026
