At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Gov. Gavin Newsom was singled out during President Trump’s speech, a moment captured on camera and quickly shared online. Newsom called the address "remarkably boring" and dismissed talk of invading Greenland as not serious. He also criticized Davos attendees for appearing to placate Trump, while other governors, including Gretchen Whitmer and Andy Beshear, publicly criticized the president’s tone.
Newsom Taunts Trump At Davos; Trump Responds Onstage — Viral Moment Fuels 2028 Talk
California Governor Gavin Newsom stands behind White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as they attend the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, known for his public jabs at President Donald Trump, was in the audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, when Trump singled him out during a widely televised speech. The exchange — captured on camera — quickly went viral and renewed discussion about both men’s political positioning.
Onstage Callout
During remarks that ranged from domestic policy to an unusual renewed push to acquire Greenland, Trump acknowledged Newsom directly.
"We’re going to help the people in California. We want to have no crime. I know Gavin was here. I used to get along so great with Gavin when I was president. Gavin is a good guy," Trump said, adding, "I would say this, if I were a Democrat governor, or whatever, I would call up Trump, I’d say, 'Come on in. Make us look good.'"
Cameras showed Newsom smiling and apparently chuckling as the president spoke, and the clip was quickly clipped and shared across social platforms, giving both camps fresh material.
Newsom’s Response
Speaking to CNN’s Kaitlan Collins after the speech, Newsom dismissed Trump’s address as "remarkably boring" and "remarkably insignificant," saying there was nothing new for American audiences. He downplayed the president’s renewed talk of acquiring Greenland and said he did not believe the earlier threats of military action were genuine.
"He was never going to invade Greenland," Newsom said, adding that the tone of the remarks reflected anxiety among some business leaders at the forum.
Broader Criticism And Tactics
Newsom’s barbs at Davos were not limited to Trump. Before the president arrived, the governor accused some attendees of "rolling over" for Trump and quipped that he should have "brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders," calling the scene embarrassing from an American perspective.
The governor’s communications team has leaned into a confrontational, humorous style online—mirroring some of Trump’s rhetorical flourishes, using all-caps emphasis, pointed sign-offs like "Thank you for your attention to this matter," and circulating memes and AI-generated images that have sometimes included harsh personal attacks on critics. Explaining the strategy on CBS’s "The Late Show," Newsom said humor was a deliberate tool to highlight what he views as the absurdity of Trump’s politics.
Other Governors React
Other governors seen as potential 2028 contenders were also at Davos. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear participated in a forum, and Beshear told CNN that Trump’s speech was "dangerous," "disrespectful" and "unhinged," accusing the president of mocking allied leaders and rambling through stories in a way that Beshear said was embarrassing for the United States.
The Davos exchange offers another vivid moment in the ongoing public rivalry between Newsom and Trump, and it has been seized upon by both sides’ social media teams as fodder ahead of future political cycles.
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