Gavin Newsom Blasts European Leaders Over Trump Standoff

California Governor Gavin Newsom took center stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 20, 2026, unleashing a blistering critique of European leaders for what he described as their "pathetic" and "embarrassing" response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive foreign policy maneuvers. The annual summit, usually a showcase for global cooperation, instead became a battleground for competing visions of transatlantic relations and the future of the world order.

Newsom, a prominent Democrat and widely seen as a contender for the 2028 presidential race, did not mince words. Addressing a packed room of reporters, he declared, “I can’t take this complicity. People rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders. I mean handing out crowns, the Nobel prizes that are being given away. It’s just pathetic. And I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage.” According to Newsweek, he lambasted world leaders for what he saw as excessive deference to Trump, referencing the recent incident where Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado ceremonially gave her Nobel Peace Prize to the U.S. President during a White House visit.

Newsom’s remarks were not just colorful, they were pointed. He accused European leaders of “rolling over” and being “complicit” in Trump’s escalating demands, particularly regarding the President’s push to acquire Greenland from Denmark. “It’s time to buck up, it’s time to get serious and stop being complicit,” Newsom told reporters, as cited by The Guardian. He argued that the current approach to Trump was “not diplomacy, it’s stupidity.”

The governor’s critique extended beyond rhetoric. Newsom, known for his sharp wit, even sells kneepads on his campaign website—a tongue-in-cheek jab at politicians who, in his view, grovel to Trump. The kneepads, emblazoned with Trump’s signature, are advertised as “for all your groveling to Trump needs now in Republican red… for the low low price of your soul.” It’s a metaphor he’s used often, but at Davos, it landed with particular force.

Newsom’s comments came at a moment of heightened tension between the United States and Europe. President Trump, never one to shy away from controversy, had recently threatened to impose tariffs on European allies unless Denmark agreed to sell Greenland to the U.S.—a demand that has left European diplomats scrambling. Trump has refused to rule out the possibility of withdrawing from NATO over the Greenland dispute, a move that would have seismic implications for global security. “No person or President has done more for NATO than myself. If I didn’t come along, there would be no NATO right now! It would have been in the ash heap of history,” Trump declared, according to TIME.

European leaders, for their part, struck a more measured tone at Davos. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, championed “European independence” and highlighted Europe’s commitment to Arctic security, referencing Finland’s recent sale of icebreaker vessels to the U.S.—the first such deal of its kind. “When it comes to the security of the Arctic region, Europe is fully committed. And we share the objectives of the United States in this regard,” she said.

French President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, echoed von der Leyen’s calls for European strength but went further in his criticism of Trump. “We do prefer respect to bullies, we do prefer science to politicism, and we do prefer rule of law to brutality,” Macron stated, pointedly referencing the U.S. approach to trade. He warned that Trump’s trade policies “undermine our [European] export interests, demand maximum concessions and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe, combined with an endless accumulation of new tariffs that are fundamentally unacceptable.” Macron lamented that European industries, particularly chemical and automotive sectors, “are being literally killed by the lack of respect for a normal framework and [a] level playing field.”

The dispute over Greenland has become a flashpoint for broader anxieties about the future of the transatlantic alliance. European leaders have historically sought to avoid open confrontation with the U.S., given America’s role as a key trading partner and security guarantor. Some, like NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, have tried to maintain cordial relations, even praising Trump’s actions in Syria and expressing eagerness to find a “way forward on Greenland.” But as Newsom noted, this strategy has left Europe vulnerable to what he called Trump’s "wrecking ball" diplomacy.

“This guy is a wrecking ball. I hope people are waking up to what we are dealing with. This is code red,” Newsom warned, as reported by Newsweek. He likened Trump to a “T-Rex” in international relations: “You mate with him or he devours you, one or the other.” Newsom described Trump as “unmoored and unhinged” yet “very intentional,” cautioning that the world is still “playing by an old set of rules” while Trump operates by the “law of the jungle.”

Newsom also accused many leaders of hypocrisy, saying, “Everybody’s talking behind his back. They’re laughing at him. Meanwhile, they’re sucking up to him. It’s embarrassing…This is not diplomacy, it’s stupidity.” He urged European lawmakers to “stop being complicit” and “have a backbone,” insisting that the time for appeasement had passed.

The governor’s confrontational stance is interpreted by some experts as part of a broader effort to boost his national profile ahead of a potential 2028 presidential run. As Fox News notes, Newsom’s willingness to challenge Trump on the international stage sets him apart from other Democratic hopefuls and positions him as a possible alternative to the current Republican foreign policy trajectory.

For their part, European leaders appear divided on how best to respond. While some advocate for a firmer hand against Trump’s tariffs and threats, others remain wary of risking a rupture with Washington. The uncertainty has led to confusion and, in some cases, proposals to retaliate with tariffs of their own. The situation remains fluid, with both sides weighing the costs of confrontation against the risks of acquiescence.

As the dust settles on this year’s Davos summit, one thing is clear: the old certainties of the transatlantic partnership are being tested as never before. Whether Newsom’s calls for backbone will find resonance among European leaders—or whether Trump’s brand of hardball diplomacy will prevail—remains to be seen. But the debate over Greenland, NATO, and the future of U.S.-European relations has left the world watching, waiting, and wondering what comes next.