Newsom’s Munich Trip Faces Criticism
California Governor Gavin Newsom spent the weekend engaging with international leaders and business figures in Munich, Germany. This has left some critics back home questioning, “Who’s really in charge here?”
At the Munich Security Council, Newsom is among three prominent Democratic presidential contenders, joining Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
His European jaunt has sparked discontent in California, though the governor quickly pivoted to a critique of President Trump during a climate change speech on Friday, accusing Trump of “doubling down on fools.”
Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and a Republican who once ran for governor, expressed skepticism about Newsom’s priorities. “Just weeks after making a fool of himself at Davos, he flies to Europe to lecture others on climate while besmirching America’s reputation. What’s the aim?”
Hilton continued, “It seems like pandering to foreign leaders and domestic leftists who might not be satisfied with his attacks on Trump.”
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, another Republican gubernatorial candidate, criticized Newsom for avoiding the pressing issues within California while seemingly preparing for a 2028 presidential run. “Honestly, we might be better off without him here. At least now we’re spared from him,” he said.
State lawmakers, who are working on legislation for the remainder of the two-year session, also voiced concerns about the governor’s overseas commitments. Republican State Senator Suzette Martinez Validares remarked, “Once again, he’s chosen to leave during a critical time when families are struggling with rising costs and businesses are barely hanging on.”
She added, “California’s families can’t afford to ignore their problems, and neither should the governor. Leadership means being here, not chasing headlines.”
Republican Representative Carl DeMaio, a staunch critic of Newsom, also condemned the trip. “California is in chaos with rising living costs, a fiscal crisis, a poor job market, and rampant homelessness,” he noted. “Instead of addressing the issues he’s created, Newsom is gallivanting around the world trying to charm foreign leaders. He should really focus on cleaning up his own backyard.”
