A Cheshire Cat-looking Gov. Gavin Newsom appeared to use civil rights icon Jesse Jackson’s memorial service Friday as a campaign event — as the rumored 2028 presidential hopeful was spotted schmoozing Democrat heavyweights, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
The lame-duck California governor was pictured working the room and snapping selfies with Democratic party elites, as thousands of people gathered at a church on Chicago’s South Side to pay a final public tribute to Jackson.
In one telling moment, Obama, who was front row at the event, turned around and excitedly pointed at Newsom, who’s been on the publicity trail for his book “Young Man in a Hurry” as he preps a possible White House bid.
Other high-profile Dems, including former Vice President Kamala Harris, Rev. Al Sharpton, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, also attended the Friday event at the House of Hope.
The event was celebratory and upbeat, with performances by a gospel choir and Jennifer Hudson, BeBe Winans and Pastor Marvin Winans.
Attendees chanted, “I am somebody!” and “Keep hope alive!” — two of Jackson’s best-known catchphrases.
President Trump did not attend due to his schedule and ongoing events, a White House official told Reuters.
Obama spoke at the service and decried the state of America under the Trump administration, without explicitly naming the commander in chief.
“Each day we wake up to some new assault on our Democratic institutions, another setback to the idea of the rule of law, an offense to common decency. Every day you wake up to, to things you just didn’t think were possible,” Obama said in a speech
Obama credited Jackson with inspiring him to run for president, having watched Jackson’s own White House bid in 1984.
“He paved the road for so many others to follow,” Obama said at the service.
Newsom, meanwhile, has dodged questions about his widely expected 2028 White House bid, telling The Post last month that it was “wildly premature” to speculate.
