Newsom Critiques Foreign Leaders at World Economic Forum

California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed strong criticism of foreign leaders at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, suggesting they, in his words, “rolled over” instead of standing up to President Donald Trump. He even remarked that these dignitaries should have come prepared with “kneepads.”

Newsom commented to reporters, “People are tossing and turning. We should have brought a ton of knee pads for all the world leaders. That’s just pathetic.” He is scheduled to speak at the forum on Thursday, while President Trump plans to arrive on Tuesday night. This visit is notable as Trump has hinted at imposing significant tariffs on several countries as he pursues the purchase of Greenland.

Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, has been viewed historically as a vital military post, especially during the Cold War. Recently, European leaders have expressed their disagreement with Trump’s increasing assertions about Greenland’s strategic importance to the U.S.

Newsom has also criticized gifts that Trump has received from foreign leaders, like the presentation of a Nobel Peace Prize from Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado. He accused European leaders of “colluding” with Trump and admonished them to “have some backbone.”

“This is pathetic,” Newsom reiterated, highlighting the absurdity of the Nobel Prize being awarded in such a context. “It’s embarrassing,” he added while likening Trump’s behavior to that of a predatory dinosaur, in a rather colorful comparison.

When asked about Trump’s ambitions regarding Greenland, the President’s response was vague: “We’ll see.” Newsom continued, stating that engaging with Trump feels like a dangerous game, and if European leaders don’t stand firm, they risk being consumed by his demands.

Newsom indicated that it seems the opportunity to address these issues was missed a year ago, suggesting that now the consequences are evident. His comments reflect a frustration with the current state of international diplomacy.

Fox News Digital sought further comments from Newsom’s office but had not received a reply by Tuesday afternoon.

President Trump also expressed his views about Newsom’s presence at the forum, particularly in light of their ongoing political disagreements. He remarked, “I had a very good relationship with Gavin Newsom when we were president together.” Yet, he added that he is frustrated with how California is being managed, noting a noticeable outflow of people from the state. “It’s never been like that before,” he lamented, emphasizing how drastically things have changed.