California Governor Gavin Newsom warned that President Donald Trump approaches international negotiations like a predator, saying bluntly, “He’s a T-Rex. You mate with him or he devours you. One or the other.” Speaking in a recent interview, Newsom criticized global leaders for what he described as “complicity” in their dealings with the president, calling their approach “pathetic” and embarrassing from an American perspective.
“I can’t take this complicity—people rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders. I mean, handing out crowns and handing… Nobel Prizes that are being given away… it’s just pathetic,” Newsom said. He added that such behavior damages credibility and undermines international respect.
⚡️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
Newsom framed his comments as a call for principle, unity, and strength, urging both domestic and foreign officials to take a firm stance. “It’s time to buck up. It’s time to get serious and stop being complicit. It’s time to stand tall and firm, have a backbone. I’ve seen this in the United States—the supine Congress playing both sides, saying one thing in a text or tweet and another publicly. It’s time to have principle. It’s time to stand tall and strong. It’s time to stand united,” he said.
The governor also directed his remarks specifically at European leaders, arguing that their failure to act decisively has left them exposed. “The Europeans, if they continue down this path and process, need to stand tall, stand firm, stand united. We should have been having this conversation a year ago, and they didn’t. Now you’re paying the price—exactly what any objective observer would have anticipated,” Newsom said.
The comments come amid heightened international scrutiny over strategic and security issues, including President Trump’s push to secure Greenland as a U.S. territory. The plan has sparked tensions with Denmark and other European allies, who have rejected Trump’s proposal and warned against coercion. Newsom’s remarks highlight a broader concern among U.S. officials and politicians about perceived weaknesses in global diplomacy and the need for stronger, unified responses to the president’s aggressive approach.
By describing Trump as a T-Rex, Newsom emphasized the high-stakes nature of dealing with the president and underscored his call for leaders to act with principle, courage, and coordination to protect both national and international interests.
