President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom exchanged pleasantries backstage at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, despite trading bitter personal insults in public. Journalist Mark Halperin reported that the two men engaged in affable small talk in a wide hallway area before Trump's speech on Wednesday.
Halperin described Trump as deploying his 'super charming, winking manner,' with friendly banter and mutual laughter when Trump declared, 'Gavin, we’re good.' Newsom reciprocated with jovial jibes, and also spoke warmly with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, deputy James Blair, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Only Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller was reportedly less enthusiastic about engaging.
The conciliatory moment contrasted sharply with their ongoing feud over California's wildfires and immigration enforcement. In his speech, Trump referred to Newsom surprisingly warmly, saying he 'used to get along so great with Gavin' and calling him 'a good guy,' prompting an incredulous stare from Newsom in the audience.
By Thursday evening, however, Trump reverted to attacking Newsom on Truth Social, calling him a 'Lame Duck Governor of a Failing State' and criticising his record on housing, rail projects, and crime. Newsom earlier had labelled Trump an 'invasive species' and accused him of 'cosplaying on the world stage,' vowing to 'fight fire with fire.'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also joined the fray, insulting Newsom as 'Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken' and suggesting he 'may be cracking up.' Newsom retorted that Bessent's comments sounded like a 'diary entry after a breakup.'
