WATCH: An Unwitting Newsom Hands DeSantis a Pre-Debate Gift in Announcement on APEC Preparations

At last check, the highly anticipated November 30th Fox News debate between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was still on. And while Gov. DeSantis has been continuing to do the work and demonstrating national leadership qualities along the way, Gov. Newsom's buffoonery has been on full display in myriad ways, most recently during a San Francisco press conference held ahead of the start of the APEC conference.

As RedState previously reported, the once-golden city rushed to hide the homeless and clean up the drug paraphernalia and poop before opening day festivities started Saturday, all in an effort to impress powerful guests who were scheduled to visit, including President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping, who have a high-stakes meeting Wednesday.

This past Thursday, Newsom stood before the press and cameras in San Francisco, flanked by the city's woke mayor, London Breed, and state Transportation Sec. Toks Omishakin, to, incredibly, tout a street tree nursery as part of their beautification plans.

As Newsom spoke, he made a very revealing admission that confirmed speculation as to exactly why the city was in a frenzy to spruce things up (bolded emphasis added):

"We're cleaning up this state!" said California Governor Gavin Newsom as he touted Clean California. He spoke during the unveiling of a street tree nursery in San Francisco.
"I know folks are saying, 'Oh they're just cleaning up this place because all those fancy leaders are coming to town.' That's true because it's true, but it's also true for months and months and months prior to APEC we've been having conversations," said Newsom.

Watch:

After San Francisco was magically cleaned up ahead of Xi Jinping's visit, Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom says:

"I know folks say, 'Oh, they're just cleaning up this place because all these fancy leaders are coming into town.' That's true because it's true." pic.twitter.com/gMaKBtRq5f
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 13, 2023

Not that DeSantis needed the help; he's got Newsom's number right down to the hair gel and Newsom's dictatorial COVID-19 policies (see video below):

The debate is already settled.

California’s liberal governance is a disaster. @RonDeSantis’ conservative policies have Florida thriving, and would do so for the nation. pic.twitter.com/c4a8P5g5UQ
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) June 19, 2023

But I can't think of a bigger gift for Newsom to give him ahead of the debate than to confirm that San Francisco's - and California's - priorities revolve around presidential wannabe Gavin Newsom trying to put on a good show for the Important People and pretending to Do Something™ all while the state's residents continue to suffer to the point many have decided to pack up and head for the exits - and head straight to red states like DeSantis' Florida.

I mean Newsom really believes things like planting tree nurseries are going to strengthen California's heavily tarnished image. As far as I'm concerned, if that's not proof positive of how warped his priorities are, I don't know what is.