California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized President Donald Trump, asserting that longstanding U.S. allies are increasingly turning to China due to what he described as Trump’s instability. Newsom’s remarks came in response to a post by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing a renewed strategic partnership between Canada and China, including new visa-free travel privileges for Canadian citizens.
Great work, @realDonaldTrump!
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) February 17, 2026
Our longtime allies are trading the U.S. for China because Trump is an unstable lunatic.
TOTAL DISASTER! https://t.co/s0Lqo8VZxQ
In his post, Newsom wrote, “Great work, @realDonaldTrump! Our longtime allies are trading the U.S. for China because Trump is an unstable lunatic. TOTAL DISASTER!” The statement highlighted growing concerns among U.S. leaders about the country’s position in international diplomacy as allies expand engagement with China.
Prime Minister Carney had announced that Canadian passport holders can now travel to China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days. A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed that the policy would be effective immediately and remain in place until December 31, 2026. The exemption applies to visits for business, tourism, family or friends, exchanges, and transit purposes. U.K. passport holders will also benefit from the same policy.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand emphasized that the change is intended to “make travel easier, support business exchanges, and strengthen people-to-people ties between our countries.” The move comes after years of strained Canada-China relations, including disputes over tariffs and limits on Chinese tourism to Canada.
The visa-free policy was first discussed following Prime Minister Carney’s visit to Beijing in January, where he met with President Xi Jinping. During that visit, Carney highlighted agreements on clean and conventional energy cooperation and secured concessions allowing tens of thousands of Chinese electric vehicles into Canada in exchange for tariff reductions on Canadian agricultural products such as canola seeds.
In Beijing, Prime Minister Carney met with Premier Li Qiang of the People's Republic of China. They discussed opportunities for enhanced trade and investment between our countries and welcomed the renewal of bilateral engagement across several sectors. https://t.co/qHhjd4XtOb pic.twitter.com/Z02nzApN4Y
— Prime Minister of Canada (@CanadianPM) January 15, 2026
For Canadian travelers, the change represents a major simplification, eliminating the previous visa application process and fees of roughly $140. China has recently expanded similar visa exemptions to other Western nations as part of a broader effort to promote tourism in the post-pandemic period.
Newsom’s criticism of Trump underscores the broader debate over U.S. leadership on the global stage, as allies reevaluate partnerships in the context of shifting diplomatic and economic priorities. His remarks suggest that some state leaders view Trump’s current presidency as a factor in weakening traditional alliances and opening opportunities for China to strengthen its international ties.
