Newsom Denied Entry at Davos Event Amid Allegations of Political Pressure
California Governor Gavin Newsom faced restrictions at a scheduled “fireside chat” hosted by Fortune magazine at USA House, a U.S.-affiliated venue in Davos, Switzerland, prior to the World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering on Wednesday.
USA House serves as an official U.S. location during the WEF, where global political and business leaders come together. It’s funded privately and backed by the U.S. State Department.
Although Newsom (D-Calif.) was invited by Fortune to join the discussion, just before the event began, USA House officials informed his team that the session had been canceled.
Newsom’s office attributed the cancellation to alleged pressure from White House officials.
“Under pressure from the White House and State Department, USA House (acting as the official U.S. pavilion) is now denying entry to @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom to speak with media after Fortune — the official media partner — invited him to speak,” his press office stated on social media.
Furthermore, a USA House representative indicated that Newsom would not be allowed to address the media at the venue, claiming that showcasing an “elected official” didn’t fit with that day’s programming.
As an alternative, Newsom’s office was offered a late-night “nightcap reception” which would be off the record and without press access.
The White House responded sharply to Newsom’s claims, asserting: “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.”
Currently, USA House celebrates the 250th anniversary of the U.S. in Davos, hosting speakers at a few select venues along the Promenade. These include notable places near the security zone.
As a privately-funded hub for American officials and executives, it enjoys support from major U.S. corporations like Microsoft and McKinsey.
Before these events unfolded, Newsom had publicly criticized European leaders during the WEF, saying they were not adequately confronting Trump’s policies after the President’s speech.
While Fortune confirmed its invitation to Newsom, it clarified that the decision to exclude him was made by USA House.
