In what political scientists are calling "the most predictable meltdown since a toddler being told they can't have ice cream for breakfast," Fox News personalities have expressed deep concern over California Governor Gavin Newsom's recent adoption of a certain orange-tinted politician's signature social media style.
The controversy began when Newsom's office started posting messages in ALL CAPS, featuring creative nicknames, and making bold claims about political opponents — a communication strategy that Fox News has spent the last eight years describing as "refreshingly authentic" and "telling it like it is" when employed by their preferred candidate.
"This is completely different," explained Fox News host Dana Perino, apparently with a straight face. "When Trump posts things like 'SLEEPY JOE IS FINISHED,' that's presidential leadership. When Newsom posts 'DONALD IS FINISHED — HE IS NO LONGER HOT,' that's just... unseemly gubernatorial behavior."
The network's confusion deepened when Newsom's social media team began incorporating Trump's greatest hits, including references to "low energy" opponents and suggestions that political rivals were "afraid" of him.
"We don't understand why he's doing this," said one Fox News producer, who requested anonymity because they were apparently unaware that mockery is a concept that exists. "It's like he's holding up a mirror to show us how ridiculous this style of communication looks, which is just... wait, why are we upset about this again?"
The satirical posts have been particularly effective at triggering the very audience that normally celebrates this exact type of political discourse. Newsom's office recently posted: "TRUMP JUST FLED THE PODIUM WITH PUTIN — NO QUESTIONS, NOTHING! TOTAL LOW ENERGY. THE MAN LOOKED LIKE HE'D JUST EATEN 3 BUCKETS OF KFC WITH VLAD."
"You think that we don't get the joke. Oh, no, we get the joke. It's just not funny," Perino insisted, in what appeared to be a moment of accidental self-awareness about the past decade of American political discourse.
Political analysts noted the genius of Newsom's strategy: by simply copying Trump's communication style word-for-word, he has managed to make Fox News personalities argue against the very rhetorical approach they've been defending since 2016.
"It's brilliant," said Dr. Sarah Martinez, a political communications expert at UCLA. "He's basically saying 'if this style is presidential when Trump does it, then it should be fine when I do it too.' The fact that they're outraged proves they know it's inappropriate — they just didn't want to admit it before."
When reached for comment, Newsom's office responded in character: "ALMOST A WEEK IN AND THEY STILL DON'T GET IT. SAD!"
Fox News has reportedly scheduled a week-long special investigation into "The Dangerous Precedent of Politicians Acting Like Donald Trump," apparently without a trace of irony.
In related news, the concept of "cognitive dissonance" has applied for hazard pay after being overworked in political media coverage.
The story continues to develop, with political observers eagerly awaiting Fox News's next segment on "Why Presidential Behavior Is Only Presidential When the Right Person Does It."