California Governor Gavin Newsom faced sharp criticism from the White House after he alleged that the Trump administration excluded him from a scheduled speaking engagement at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Newsom’s press office claimed that both the White House and the State Department denied him entry to a “fireside chat” hosted by Fortune magazine, which he had been invited to attend.
In response, a spokesperson from the Trump administration dismissed Newsom’s significance, stating that he is not regarded as a priority. Anna Kelly, a spokeswoman for Trump, told The New York Post, “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.”
According to an official from the Newsom administration, the governor was invited to speak at the event on January 13, 2024, and his office accepted the invitation on the preceding Monday. However, on the day of the event, a representative from USA House informed them that an “elected official” could not be accommodated in the schedule, leading to the cancellation of the talk.
The USA House official noted that the decision followed appearances by multiple Trump administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, at the event. As a consolation, Newsom was offered a 10 p.m. “nightcap reception” instead. The official mentioned that Bessent remarked, “I was told he was asked to give a speech on his signature policies but he’s not speaking.”
Taking to social media platform X, Newsom expressed his frustration, stating, “How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?” The governor’s tirade comes as he is considered a potential contender for the 2028 presidential election.
Newsom has not hesitated to confront Trump on international platforms. Recently, he referred to the former president as a “T-Rex,” suggesting that Trump intimidates European leaders. He also criticized Bessent, describing him as “out of touch.”
The exchange between Newsom and the Trump administration highlights the ongoing tensions between the two political figures as they navigate their respective positions on the global stage.
