How’s Newsom doing at Davos? Just ask Trump
What’s the best way to get Governor Gavin Newsom free publicity and a worldwide audience?
Freeze him in DavosWhere the rich and powerful meet in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland. The Trump administration is learning the hard way in real time that little things come with a price; in this case, he is mocked by the world.
While Congress, Europe and the law may not intimidate our president, we all know that his soft, white belly is a source of ridicule.
In case you missed it, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the California governor was barred from attending a scheduled media address (allegedly under pressure from the White House) that would have rebutted Trump’s ramblings at the event, according to Newsom’s office.
On Wednesday, Newsom’s team announced that the United States had been turned away from the USA House, the privately run but official gathering spot. Newsom was scheduled to have a fireside chat with Forbes magazine, but it appears he was politely told not to do so when he arrived at the church-turned-conference hall.
“How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be so afraid of a fireside chat?” Newsom posted on X.
Cue anger. Point to coverage.
Forbes didn’t know the snub was coming, but within minutes it became world news, according to screenshots of private text messages reviewed by The Times. Except maybe CBS.
This is putting too much focus on a guy who isn’t even a billionaire, hasn’t run a country, and is supposedly not even in the presidential race yet. If you’re not personally familiar with the meeting in Davos, the kings (and occasional queens) of the world come together to think big thoughts. Acting cool in that crowd is a big deal.
But it’s this kind of highlight that makes Newsom look good. Defamating him from the USA House was like yelling in his face that he was such a bad person and the president wasn’t going to put up with it anymore. There it is!
Very funny. It’s very powerful. This gives him the kind of news coverage that other candidates who aren’t yet running for office dream of.
This makes clear that the Newsom-Trump rivalry is far from being the helpful foil it is often described as “Newsom hitting the bullseye.” With Trump and the voters. And now maybe with world leaders; This makes him even more valid as a candidate. Surely this is Trump’s suppression of dissent.
Earlier in the day, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent went after Newsom“Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken,” he calls out to Newsom.
This is a reference to the ultra-cute serial killer from the movie “American Psycho” crossed with the popular 1990s version of the male Barbie, known for his beautiful eyes and beautiful hair. To be fair, Newsom looks like both of them.
This statement echoes Newsom’s criticism that the average American couple buying houses for rent for their retirement. Personally, like most of us, I cannot afford any extra money. barbie doll houseTo be fair, Newsom is right about this.
Newsom also lost points Trump’s speech. He called it “boring,” the most severe insult you can throw at Trump. But it was.
For more than an hour, Trump mistakenly called Greenland Iceland and demanded that it be handed over to him.
Yawn.
He went after windmills because “they kill birds, they ruin your views.”
Where are you?
It has come after Minnesota with particularly rabid racism, though it has been overused, because it reminds us that “the West cannot mass import foreign cultures that fail to establish a successful society of their own?”
Wow.
As Newsom pointed out at a press conference for American audiences shortly thereafter — just before he was banned from speaking officially — this is the same ugly nonsense we’ve been subjected to for almost a year. Even though it’s scary and dangerous, it’s definitely not fresh.
“My God, there was nothing new in that conversation,” Newsom said. “It was extremely insignificant.”
This was certainly not a speech that earned Trump the credibility or support of kings and queens. It had absolutely no diplomacy or leadership or, frankly, even meaning. Despite the laughter and applause from the audience, I doubt there are few outside Trump’s team who would call this a success.
But for Newsom, Davos is a victory.
