California’s Governor Gavin Newsom just suffered a massive defeat on his recent jaunt to the World Economic Forum in Davos. It was a vulnerable moment for him under the world’s gaze. And CA Gov. Newsom was scheduled to hold a fireside chat with Fortune at the USA House event. After his office sent notice of participation, that suddenly got called off after his office said the Trump administration put on intimidation.
The cancellation comes at a time when Newsom has become one of the most high-profile critics of former President Donald Trump. He attended Trump’s keynote address at the forum, where Trump acknowledged him, stating, “I know Gavin was here… Gavin is a good guy.” Still, it was obvious that the deepening personal feud between the two leaders informed the mood surrounding Newsom’s hoped-for presence.
This had been Newsom’s plan, using the second-largest state as a national counterweight to every swing-state Trumpist policy. His office has claimed that Newsom was extended an invitation to come talk about his signature policies. Yet, he was never allowed to actually step foot on the stage. This decision led to significant outrage among Newsom’s band, who saw it as a move to preemptively assassinate a dissident voice.
In a statement on social media, Governor Newsom shared his anger that the project had been cancelled. He remarked, “How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?” This feeling is telling of his critical stance towards the Trump administration and its contradictory attitude towards global diplomacy.
Over his three-day visit to Davos, Newsom stole the show. He ripped the Trump administration’s behavior and called out European allies for their supposed failure to respond to Trump’s actions. He stated, “I can’t take this complicity of people rolling over,” suggesting that world leaders should take a firmer stance against what he described as Trump’s aggressive diplomatic style.
Newsom didn’t mince words in his criticism of Trump, making the comparison in diplomatic terms to a T-Rex. He stated, “There’s no diplomacy with Donald Trump: he’s a T rex. You mate with him or he devours you.” This grim analogy highlighted his opposition to Trump’s reckless and nihilistic approach to global diplomacy and Border-line governance.
Despite his criticisms, some observers noted that Newsom’s profile has risen significantly, particularly as he positions himself as a potential contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. His aggressive online mockery of Trump, specifically, has made him an unlikely superstar. It has ignited establishment Democratic support, insulating him even more among party loyalists in the process.
Not everyone views Newsom favorably. Anna Kelly, a political commentator, derided his presence at Davos, stating, “No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California.” These kinds of comments go to show just how divisive the worldviews are on Newsom’s national ambitions and behavior.
After the cancellation, a spokesperson for Newsom’s office provided the following statement. They pointed out that logistical and security considerations drove the decision, reiterating that denial of access can be dynamic and situational in nature and affect multiple parties. Fortune was equally responsive to the intricacies of this conversation in their pre-event communications.
Scott Bessent, another observer, remarked on the situation, saying, “I was told he was asked to give a speech on his signature policies, but he’s not speaking.” This underscores the importance of public perception since political maneuvering and scuttled engagement prospects are regular occurrences at high-profile events such as Davos.