Sean Hannity’s attempted slam of California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) was irony defined for many of the Fox News host’s critics. 
Fox News
On Wednesday, Hannity devoted several minutes of his prime-time show to attacking Newsom, who has recently taken to trolling Donald Trump on social media by mimicking the president’s bombastic and combative tone. 
Fox News
Top Trump ally Hannity denounced Newsom, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, as a “radical” whose policies had wrecked California and dismissed his Trump impersonations as “embarrassing.” 
Fox News
Then came the line that went viral: “I have a point. Results matter. A new performative, confrontational style. Maybe it wins you points with the loony, radical base in your party. But America is not going to vote for that record.” 
Fox News
You can watch the full clip here:
Hannity: A performative confrontational style—maybe it wins you points with the loony radical base in your party but America is not going to vote for that record. pic.twitter.com/g54oQdrnNt
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 21, 2025
@Acyn / Fox News / Via x.com
Critics pounced on the remark, arguing it sounded more like a description of Trump — and Hannity himself — than of the governor.
The irony of not knowing what a mirror is.
— Truthstream Media (@truthstreamnews) August 21, 2025
@truthstreamnews / Via x.com
That’s rich coming from Hannity, a guy whose entire career is built on performative confrontation. It’s like McDonald’s telling you not to eat fast food. He’s out here critiquing “loony radical bases” while serving as the maître d’ at the all-you-can-eat grievance buffet every…
— Nate Lichtman (@27KeysToTheRace) August 21, 2025
@KeysToTheRace / Via x.com
I
R
O
N
Y
😂
— jp (@ChefjparkJohn) August 21, 2025
@ChefjparkJohn / Via x.com
Is their audience that unaware?
— 𓂀 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𓂀 (@marysupoppinz) August 21, 2025
@marysupoppinz/ / Via x.com
Irony is dead. https://t.co/NUTHsQTIZl
— Jason P. (@JasonPYYC) August 21, 2025
@JasonPYYC / Via x.com
Hannity should know better, since he’s part of the loony radical base of the party which elected just such an antagonistic, confrontational person President.
— Robert Firsching (@robfirsching) August 21, 2025
@robfirsching / Via x.com
He lacks self awareness
— Another (@AllwhichIam) August 21, 2025
@AllwhichIam / Via x.com
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
