Cartel Fires in Mexico? Just Kidding — This Is Gavin Newsom's California

 

BREAKING: Fires rage in the streets of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico as cartels burn cars in the city.

Just kidding this is Gavin Newsom's California last summer pic.twitter.com/cm2Oa98GEa

— TaraBull (@TaraBull) February 23, 2026

The X post you're referring to from @TaraBull

 (posted February 23, 2026) is a sarcastic commentary on California under Governor Gavin Newsom.Post content:BREAKING: Fires rage in the streets of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico as cartels burn cars in the city.

Just kidding this is Gavin Newsom's California last summer

It includes a short video clip (about 17 seconds) showing burning vehicles, smoke, people in the street (some waving Mexican flags), and chaotic scenes that appear to involve clashes or unrest.Context and what the video actually shows:

The footage is from the June 2025 Los Angeles protests (and related unrest in nearby areas like Compton) against large-scale ICE immigration raids and mass deportation operations under the Trump administration. Protesters clashed with police and federal agents in several locations. 

Some incidents escalated: rocks and objects were thrown at police vehicles, attempts were made to set police cars (and other vehicles like Waymo autonomous taxis) on fire, burning dumpsters appeared, and thick smoke filled the air. 

Mexican and American flags were prominently waved by some demonstrators, which became a point of political controversy and was highlighted by critics as evidence of "foreign influence" or lack of assimilation.

The post misrepresents the location/timeframe for satirical effect — claiming it's "cartel violence in Mexico" before revealing it's actually from California "last summer" (referring to summer 2025). The implication is to criticize Newsom's governance, immigration policies, and/or law enforcement response in the state, suggesting California has descended into lawlessness comparable to cartel-controlled areas in Mexico.Reception on X:It quickly gained traction among conservative users: over 27,000 likes, 5,500+ reposts, and 650,000+ views within hours. 

Replies mostly agree with the criticism of Democrats/Newsom, call for stronger border enforcement/ICE action, or make similar sarcastic comparisons (e.g., "The Left and the cartel are the same"). 

A few dissenting or skeptical replies appeared later (e.g., questioning if the fire looks real/AI-generated or arguing it's not representative of California as a whole).

This type of "misdirection + reveal" format is common in political memes on X to drive engagement and make a point about perceived failures in blue states/cities regarding crime, immigration, and public order.