The California Democrat, who is widely rumored to be a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has been governor of California since 2018. Under Newsom’s leadership, California saw some of the harshest COVID lockdowns in the country, with church attendance heavily restricted for over a year. With many families and individuals moving out of the state in recent years, under Newsom’s leadership, California also experienced its first recorded population decline in 2021 and again in 2022.
This December, Newsom closed to the public the annual Christmas tree lighting at the state capitol, replacing the nearly 100-year-old tradition with a prerecorded virtual ceremony on Dec. 6 that was attended by the governor’s family and select guests.
A spokesperson for the governor’s office said that the ceremony was moved to the closed virtual format because of concerns about anti-Israel protests disrupting the event, according to the Los Angeles Times.
In an interview with Fox Los Angeles reporter Elex Michaelson, Newsom said: “We just couldn’t risk” a demonstration at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
“Rather than allow all Californians to ring in the Christmas season at the capital,” Becket said, “the governor invited only his family and a few select guests.”
In the Tuesday press release announcing Newsom as this year’s Ebenezer Award winner, Rienzi criticized Newsom’s decision to cancel the Christmas tree lighting festival, saying that “all Americans should be able to come together in a spirit of joy and hope at the holidays.”