Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom set off a fierce online backlash after conceding that the state's decision to close beaches during the COVID-19 pandemic was "insane in hindsight."

The admission came during an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper released this month, as reported by Fox News.

Newsom made the comment while fly fishing in a Montana river with Tapper. Before addressing specific mistakes, he offered a familiar excuse about the benefit of looking backward.

"Look, everyone's a genius in hindsight, so, you know, coulda, woulda," Newsom told Tapper.

When Tapper asked what he would have done differently, Newsom said people initially treated the pandemic like a "Purell-based crisis."

He said too much attention went toward hand sanitizer shortages and price gouging instead of the virus itself.

Newsom then acknowledged that the beach shutdowns were among several decisions he now regrets.

He also conceded that California's largest public school systems remained closed longer than they should have.

"The idea that we closed beaches was insane in hindsight," Newsom said.

The belated confession quickly ignited a social media firestorm.

Conservatives and some Californians argued that the policy was not merely foolish in retrospect, but was obviously wrong when Newsom imposed it.

Republican former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt rejected Newsom's hindsight defense.

"No, Gavin. It was insane then. We all told you it was insane then. You knew it was insane then. You're just an insane person."

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon reminded Newsom of her legal challenge against the closure of Orange County beaches.

"Remember when I sued you in both state and federal court to open the beaches of Orange County that you maliciously closed, and you lifted the order so as to moot our cases before the hearings?" Dhillon posted on X.

"You knew it back then too, Governor," Dhillon added.

Benny Johnson, host of "The Benny Show," also tore into Newsom's record.

"Gavin Newsom had a man arrested for paddleboarding alone because apparently that put him at risk of getting COVID," Johnson posted on X.

"He filled skate parks with sand, forced masks on your kids, made you show a vaccine card to go anywhere in public. Now he admits it was 'insane' six years later because he thinks he's going to be president. America hasn't forgotten."

Comedian Adam Carolla compared Newsom to a failed captain seeking greater responsibility.

"You are a sea captain who ran his tanker into the rocks, and now we can have a laugh as you explain that you didn't know anything back then and that now you would like to be in charge of the fleet," Carolla posted.

Fox News political analyst Guy Benson offered an even more concise rebuke. "Not just in hindsight!" Benson posted on X.

RealClearPolitics political correspondent Susan Crabtree pointed to what she described as glaring contradictions in the restrictions.

"What was insane was closing beach parking lots but allowing — even permitting — BLM protests in the same parking lots," Crabtree wrote.

"It was also insane to see state beaches closed but city beaches right next door open and crammed with people. I'll never forget that one."

California became the first state to issue a statewide order requiring residents to stay home on March 19, 2020.

The order affected nearly 40 million residents, and California was among the final states to resume full-time, in-person learning.

Other restrictions included mask requirements and the closure of beaches and many businesses in an effort to slow the virus.

The state also threatened to cut funding to some cities that refused to enforce the restrictions.

Newsom attended an upscale dinner in November 2020 while imposing those restrictions, prompting critics to call him hypocritical.

Frustration over his administration's handling of the pandemic and its economic fallout fueled a 2021 recall election, which Newsom ultimately survived.

Newsom, who was elected in 2018, made his latest admission as scrutiny of government pandemic decisions continues.

In July, Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times when questioned about the government's response before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Fox News Digital reached out to Newsom's office for comment.

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