California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the governor was denied entry to a U.S.-affiliated venue at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week after what it described as pressure from the Trump administration, escalating tensions between the Democratic governor and the White House.
BREAKING: Under pressure from the White House and State Department, USA House (a church acting as the official US pavilion) is now denying entry to @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom to speak with media after Fortune — the official media partner — invited him to speak.
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) January 21, 2026
Newsom had been invited to speak at USA House Davos, a privately organized event held alongside the World Economic Forum and recognized by the U.S. government as the nation’s headquarters in Davos. He was scheduled to appear in a conversation with Fortune as part of the venue’s programming. According to Newsom’s office, the governor was turned away from the venue on Jan. 21, the same day President Donald Trump addressed the forum.
According to Politico, Newsom was also scheduled to speak at another USA House event on Jan. 22, one day after Trump’s speech, but his appearance was later removed from the schedule. Messages obtained by the outlet indicated that leadership at USA House faced pressure from the U.S. Department of State regarding Newsom’s participation.
The incident followed President Trump’s appearance at the World Economic Forum earlier Wednesday, where he said he would not use military force to acquire Greenland but referred to the semi-autonomous Danish territory as “our territory.” Speaking to CNN after the president’s remarks, Newsom dismissed the speech as “remarkably boring and insignificant.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, top 2028 Democratic contender:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 21, 2026
It was remarkably boring. It was remarkably insignificant.pic.twitter.com/ZZDZcB7jNP
Despite the USA House incident, Newsom is still scheduled to participate in an official World Economic Forum event on Thursday at 11:30 p.m., according to the forum’s website. That appearance is expected to be livestreamed.
Newsom has taken an increasingly confrontational tone toward Trump during his trip to Davos. On Tuesday, he urged European leaders to “have some spine” when dealing with the president and compared Trump to a “T-Rex,” telling reporters, “You mate with him or he devours you.”
Governor Newsom tells Europe: "Stand tall and firm, have a backbone… Diplomacy with Donald Trump? He's a T-Rex. You mate with him or he devours you."pic.twitter.com/lS70uinzfT
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) January 20, 2026
The Davos episode marks the latest strain in a relationship that both sides have previously described as once cooperative. Newsom and Trump have not spoken since last summer, when the president deployed National Guard troops to Los Angeles in response to immigration-related protests.
