California Governor Gavin Newsom faced criticism from the White House following his claims that the Trump administration excluded him from a key event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Newsom’s office stated that he had been invited to participate in a “fireside chat” hosted by Fortune on January 13, 2024, but was later denied entry.
In response to Newsom’s allegations, a spokesperson for the White House described the governor as a “nobody” who has been “frolicking around Switzerland” instead of addressing pressing issues in California. Anna Kelly, a spokeswoman for Donald Trump, emphasized that Newsom is not a priority for the administration, stating, “No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland.”
Newsom’s administration reported that they accepted the invitation to speak at the USA House event earlier in the week. However, on the day of the event, a representative from USA House informed them that an “elected official” could not be accommodated in the afternoon program. This decision came after several Trump administration officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, had already spoken at the event.
As a replacement, USA House offered Newsom a 10 p.m. “nightcap reception.” An official involved in the situation commented that Bessent had been under the impression that Newsom was invited to speak about his key policies but later learned that he would not be addressing the audience.
In a pointed reaction, Newsom took to social media platform X to express his discontent. He remarked, “How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?” The governor, who is considered a likely candidate for the 2028 presidential election, has not hesitated to challenge Trump on various fronts. Earlier this week, he referred to the former president as a “T-Rex,” suggesting that Trump intimidates European leaders, and further criticized Bessent as being “out of touch.”
The exchange between the Newsom administration and the Trump team underscores the ongoing political tensions as the 2024 election approaches. Newsom’s attempts to position himself on the international stage may reflect his ambitions for a higher office, especially as he navigates relationships with key figures within both the Democratic and Republican parties.
