Gavin Newsom shoots down the idea of replacing Biden on 2024 ticket

California Gov. Gavin Newsom told DailyMail.com that speculation that he could replace Joe Biden on the 2024 Democrat presidential ticket is 'farcical' and a right-wing diversion tactic.

The strapping California executive strolled out onto the red carpet at CNN's spin room before the first presidential debate in Atlanta kicked off between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

The governor who is widely speculated to mount a future presidential bid began touting Biden's accomplishments and slamming former President Trump in front of a gaggle of reporters..

When pressed by DailyMail.com specifically on whether he would be willing to step in for Biden should the 81-year-old president bow out before this year's election, Newsom shot it down.

'It’s a non sequitur. I don’t even understand the context of that,' he responded.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the idea he would replace Joe Biden as the Democrat frontrunner is 'farcical' and that Biden is his guy

'This is a President of the United States running for re-election. He’s our guy. And that’s part of the diversion tactic of the right – to continue to sort of muddy the waters on all of that and that nonsensical speculation,' he said.

'It’s just like the absurdity of who’s going to get an injection shot. I mean this is farcical. It’s serious stuff – democracy, freedom, liberty, rights,' the California Democrat continued.

He disclosed it was 'really distressing' to him to have to talk about the notion of replacing the 81-year-old president, who is already the oldest in U.S. history.

'And to see it trivialized, as we’re trivializing it even having these conversations is really distressing to me as an American citizen, not just as a Democrat.'

And it is not anywhere as important as avoiding another Trump presidency, he added.

Newsom claimed Biden has 'done a remarkable job in three and a half years,' noting how he 'created eight times more jobs than the last three Republican administrations combined.'

'We're gonna be talking about an economy that's come roaring back, inflation that's been tamed,' the California Democrat said rosily. 'We're going to talk about a vision for the future.'

Newsom, who has done events for Biden in the past, said he was invited to the debate by the president and his campaign, though he joked that he just 'snuck in through the back door.'

Donald Trump at a debate in 2020

Joe Biden at a debate in 2020

And then he went back to praising the president.

'We're going to talk about American industrial policy and manufacturing, and the accomplishments, bipartisan, accomplishments of this administration.'

'And we’re going to compare and contrast that to a dystopian vision of the future that’s darker.'

'Where one is fueled by revenge and incriminations in the content of Trump’s desire to seek the presidency for a second time.'

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