Newsom makes himself Trump's U.S. foil in Davos
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom watches as President Trump speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 21, 2026. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
California Gov. Gavin Newsom emerged as President Trump's most visible American counterforce this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The big picture: Newsom, a likely contender for the 2028 presidential race, is positioning himself as a Democratic foil, contrasting his vision of the U.S. with Trump's approach, which has led to strained relationships with European allies in recent weeks.
- Newsom and Trump have clashed for years — with Newsom trolling Trump online and Trump attempting to wield federal power against California.
- That conflict escalated last year when Newsom sued the Trump administration over a military deployment to Los Angeles, leading to an eventual troop withdrawal.
Trump-Newsom rivalry resumes at Davos
Friction point: The rivalry appeared to pick up again on Wednesday as Trump bashed European allies in his speech and dug at Newsom.
- "We're going to help the people in California," Trump said. "We want to have no crime. I know Gavin was here. I used to get along so great with Gavin when I was president. Gavin is a good guy."
- Television cameras cut to Newsom in the room, who was seen with a sly smirk on his face.
Not long after, the White House used a snapshot of the TV clip to insult Newsom:
- "The failing Governor of California (rampant with fraud) watches from the corner cuck chair as @POTUS delivers a true masterclass in Davos. Embarrassing!" the White House posted on X.
The other side: Newsom fired back by calling Trump's speech "remarkably boring."
- "It was remarkably insignificant," Newsom told CNN in Davos.
- "And there were boorish parts of it but those were not even that consequential, including name-checking people he likes, people he didn't like," the governor later added. "So honestly, I was just a little disappointed. I was a little nonplussed."
Newsom doubled down in social media posts, writing: "America's allies and business leaders need to understand this: There's no diplomacy with Donald Trump. Get off your knees and grow a spine."
Newsom becomes star at Davos
Zoom out: Axios reporters in Davos noted that Newsom was the star of the hallways at the global conference.
- The governor was hounded by reporters throughout the first three days. In interviews, he repeatedly called on European allies to stand up to Trump.
- He told Axios that the transatlantic alliance — which has been questioning the U.S. role in the global order — was "dormant, not dead."
Newsom was also spotted with Alexander Soros — the son of Democratic mega-donor George Soros — who posted a photo with Newsom on X, calling him the "real star" of the Davos event.
- "World leaders could take a page out of Newsom's book. It's time to stand tall, stand firm, and stand united — before it's too late," he wrote.
The Soros photo opened Newsom up to right-wing criticism for locking arms with a renowned conservative target and member of the global elite.
- In a speech, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent scolded Newsom over the photo, saying the California governor was "Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ben" who was at Davos "with his billionaire sugar daddy, Alex Soros."
What we're watching: On Wednesday, Politico reported that Newsom was told that his Davos talk scheduled for Thursday was canceled. His team claimed the State Department may have influenced the decision.
- Newsom was expected to be highly critical of European elites and President Trump in his speech — a strategy he had already taken throughout his time in Davos.
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