California Governor Gavin Newsom took a sarcastic swipe at President Donald Trump ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, joking that he was packing “an extra suitcase of kneepads” for world leaders he believes are too eager to accommodate the president.
Newsom mocked Trump’s upcoming appearance at Davos, saying the president is headed there “to brag about wrecking the American economy.” Newsom then added, that he had “also flown to Davos” — to “vigorously defend California as an alternative to Trump’s world disorder.”
The comment builds on Newsom’s recent pattern of sharply worded criticism of Trump’s approach to global diplomacy. In earlier remarks, Newsom compared the president to a predator, saying Trump approaches international negotiations like a “T-Rex,” forcing leaders to submit or be overrun. He accused global officials of “rolling over” in their dealings with Trump and described their behavior as embarrassing from an American perspective.
⚡️California Gov. Gavin Newsom, top 2028 Democratic contender, on Trump and Europe:
— War Intel (@warintel4u) January 20, 2026
This guy is playing people for fools. This isn't diplomacy, it's stupidity.
He’s a T-Rex: you either meet him head-on or he devours you, one way or the other.
They need to stand tall, stand… pic.twitter.com/CBcv7o8199
“I can’t take this complicity—people rolling over,” Newsom said, adding that handing out praise and awards to Trump amounted to “pathetic” behavior on the world stage. Newsom has framed those comments as a broader critique of what he sees as a lack of backbone among both U.S. lawmakers and foreign leaders.
The governor’s Davos remark comes as Trump escalates pressure on U.S. allies, including European nations, over issues ranging from trade to security, most notably his push to bring Greenland under U.S. control. That effort has strained relations with Denmark and other NATO partners and intensified debate over Trump’s willingness to use economic or military leverage to achieve strategic goals.
His post underscores an effort to contrast California’s economic model and global engagement with Trump’s confrontational style. By framing California as an “alternative,” Newsom continues to position the state as a stable, internationally minded counterweight to the administration’s approach — even as he delivers that message through satire and sharp political humor.
