Chabria: How's Newsom doing at Davos? Just ask Trump

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Jan. 21, 2026

1:19 PM PT

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Getting cold-shouldered at Davos gave Newsom free publicity and a worldwide audience.

Newsom called Trump’s speech ‘boring,’ the most vicious insult you can hurl at him.

What’s the absolute best way to give Gov. Gavin Newsom free publicity and a worldwide audience?

Freeze him out at Davos, where the rich and powerful are meeting in the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland. The Trump administration is learning the hard way, in real time, that petty comes with a price — in this case, being laughed at by, well, the world.

And while Congress, Europe and law may hold no terrors for our president, we all know ridicule hits him in his soft, white underbelly.

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In case you missed it, at the World Economic Form in Davos, the California governor has been banned from a scheduled media talk (allegedly under pressure from the White House) that was going to be a rebuttal to Trump’s ramble at the event, according to Newsom’s office.

On Wednesday, Newsom’s team announced that he had been turned away from USA House, the privately run but official gathering spot of the United States. Newsom was scheduled to do a fireside chat with Forbes magazine, but apparently when he arrived at the church-turned-conference hall, he was politely told to beat it.

California

California Gov. Gavin Newsom said the Trump administration blocked him from speaking at the global forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

“How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?” Newsom posted on X.

Cue the outrage. Cue the coverage.

Forbes didn’t know the snub was coming, according to screen shots of private text messages reviewed by The Times, but within minutes it was world news. Except maybe on CBS.

That’s a lot of focus on a guy who isn’t even a billionaire and doesn’t run a country, and supposedly isn’t even in the presidential race yet. In case you’re not personally familiar with the gathering at Davos, it’s pretty much the kings (and occasional queen) of the world coming together to think big thoughts. Getting cold-shouldered in that crowd is a big deal.

But it’s the kind of big deal that makes Newsom look good. Blackballing him from USA House was akin to screaming in his face that he’s was a big meanie and the president wasn’t going to take it any more. So there!

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It’s funny. It’s powerful. It gets him the kind of news coverage that other not-yet-candidates dream about.

It makes it clear that far from the useful foil that the Newsom-Trump rivalry is often explained as, Newsom is hitting on points that are hitting home. With Trump, and with voters. And now, maybe with world leaders — which just makes him that much more viable as a candidate.

Earlier in the day, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent went after Newsom, calling Newsom “Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken.”

That’s a reference to the overly suave serial killer in the film “American Psycho” crossed with a popular 1990s version of a male Barbie known for its pretty eyes and good hair. To be fair, Newsom does resemble both of them.

That remark came in response to Newsom calling Bessent’s speech “smug” for suggesting that the average American couple was buying up homes as rentals for their retirements. Personally, like most of us, I can’t even afford and extra Barbie doll house, so to be fair, Newsom is right on that one.

Newsom also scored points off Trump’s speech. He called it “boring,” the most vicious insult you can hurl at Trump. But it was.

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For more than an hour, Trump repeatedly called Greenland Iceland by mistake, while demanding it be turned over to him.

Yawn.

Politics

The developments followed weeks of escalating threats from Trump to control Greenland by any means necessary — including by force, if left with no other choice.

He went after windmills because “they kill the birds, the ruin your landscapes.”

Wut?

He went after Minnesota with a particularly rabid if overused bit of racism, because it, “reminds us that the West cannot mass import foreign cultures, which have failed to ever build a successful society of their own?”

Yuck.

As Newsom pointed out in a press gaggle not too long afterward — right before being banned from his formal talk — for an American audience, it’s the same ugly drivel we’ve subjected to for nearly a year. Absolutely none of it is fresh, though it remains awful and dangerous.

“My God, there wasn’t anything new about that speech,” Newsom said. “It was remarkably insignificant.”

It was certainly not a speech that won Trump and credibility or support from those kings and queens. It certainly did not contain diplomacy or leadership, or frankly, even sense. Despite the laughter and applause from the audience, I doubt there are few if any outside of Trump’s team who would call it a success.

But for Newsom, Davos is a win.

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Ideas expressed in the piece

The Trump administration’s decision to bar Newsom from speaking at USA House in Davos represents a petty overreach that ultimately backfires by generating widespread publicity for the California governor[2]. Rather than silencing Newsom, the move provides him with prominent news coverage and amplifies his message on a global stage, demonstrating that the administration fears his arguments[2].

Newsom’s criticism of Trump’s Davos address as “remarkably boring” and “remarkably insignificant” is substantively grounded, as the speech offered no new policy proposals to the American public and recycled familiar rhetoric about Greenland and windmills[2]. The speech lacked the diplomatic engagement and leadership expected at an international economic forum.

By freezing out Newsom, the Trump administration inadvertently signals that his critiques are hitting home with both voters and world leaders, thereby enhancing his viability as a potential presidential candidate[2]. The incident demonstrates that Newsom’s messaging about economic competition and governance is resonating beyond California.

Newsom’s challenge to global leaders to resist Trump’s aggressive posture on trade and territorial ambitions is reasonable and aligns with concerns expressed by European allies like French President Emmanuel Macron about protecting international law[1]. The governor’s call for allies to “have a backbone” represents principled foreign policy commentary rather than partisan grandstanding.

Different views on the topic

Republicans argue that Newsom’s approach at Davos is irresponsible and undermines diplomatic relations by insulting both European allies and the White House[3]. Steve Hilton, a candidate for governor, contends that the focus is primarily on positioning for a 2028 presidential campaign rather than serving California’s interests, characterizing the approach as “running away” from gubernatorial duties[3].

The Trump administration and its officials argue that Newsom’s economic record in California demonstrates failed governance, pointing to outward migration, budget deficits, and homelessness as evidence of ineffective leadership[2]. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Newsom for being “too smug, too self-absorbed and too economically illiterate,” contrasting the governor’s policies with the administration’s focus on addressing “waste, fraud and abuse”[2].

The White House disputes the characterization of blocking Newsom’s appearance, instead attributing the decision to a “venue-level” programming choice rather than direct administration pressure[2]. This framing suggests the exclusion reflects logistical considerations rather than political retaliation.

Trump administration officials argue that California’s economic challenges—including the state’s homeless crisis and recent wildfire damage—undermine Newsom’s credibility on economic policy and governance, making his international economic commentary less compelling[2].

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