California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a blistering critique of global leaders attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, accusing them of a "pathetic" failure to stand up to former US President Donald Trump.
'I Should Have Brought Knee Pads'
In a fiery interview with Sky News on Tuesday 20 January 2026, Newsom expressed his fury at what he termed the "complicity" of international figures. The Governor, renowned for his political theatre, quipped that he regretted not arriving with a stock of knee pads for his fellow attendees.
"I can't take this complicity of people rolling over," Newsom raged. "I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders. I mean handing out crowns, the Nobel prizes that are being given away. It's just pathetic." He further expressed his hope that the public recognises how weak these leaders appear on the global stage.
This is not an empty gesture from Newsom. The Democratic Governor has a well-established practice of sending knee pads to politicians he believes have capitulated to Trump, even selling them via his official website as a pointed political statement.
A 'T Rex' in the Negotiating Room
Newsom went on to offer a stark metaphor for dealing with the former President, urging European leaders to radically alter their diplomatic approach. He characterised Trump as a prehistoric predator, leaving other nations with a brutal choice.
"You mate with him or he devours you, one or the other, and you need to stand up to it," he advised. His message to allies was clear: "They need to stand tall, stand firm, stand united."
According to Sally Susman, a former Democratic fundraiser, Newsom's presence at Davos is a calculated move. "Newsom's arrival at Davos confirms his desire to be seen as the Democratic Party leader and go-to guy for world leaders wanting an alternative to President Trump," she told Business Insider.
Davos Tensions Reach Boiling Point
The 2026 forum has been dominated by severe political strain between the United States and Europe. The core of the friction stems from Trump's openly stated ambition to orchestrate a takeover of Greenland, a move that has drawn widespread European condemnation.
In response, Trump has escalated tensions dramatically within the last day. He has threatened to impose staggering tariffs of 200 percent on iconic French exports like wine and cheese. Furthermore, he posted an AI-generated image depicting himself lecturing key European figures, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump also turned his ire on Prime Minister Starmer regarding the UK's handling of the Chagos Islands. Despite previously endorsing the arrangement, Trump now labels the UK's decision to relinquish the islands as an "act of total weakness."
The combination of Newsom's provocative rhetoric and Trump's aggressive posturing has transformed this year's Davos from a standard economic conference into a focal point for a deepening crisis in transatlantic diplomacy.
