In a striking display of political theatre, President Donald Trump and California Governor Gavin Newsom engaged in a very public war of words at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week. Yet, behind the scenes, a markedly different and more civil interaction reportedly took place between the two prominent figures.
Public Vitriol Versus Private Civility
According to journalist Mark Halperin, the two political adversaries shared affable small talk in a backstage hallway area before President Trump delivered his Wednesday speech. Halperin described the scene on social media platform X, noting that Trump deployed his famously charming manner, leading to friendly banter and mutual laughter. The president even declared, "Gavin, we're good," to which Newsom, described as "no stranger to faux towel snapping," responded in a jovial and jokey manner.
This private cordiality starkly contrasted with their public exchanges. The governor later used a speaking slot to label Trump an "invasive species" and accused him of caring only about personal enrichment and "cosplaying on the world stage." Newsom asserted that the only way to confront Trumpism was to "fight fire with fire."
A Rapid Return to Hostilities
The temporary détente proved fleeting. By Thursday evening, President Trump had resumed his attacks on Truth Social, deriding "Gavin Newscum" as a "'Lame Duck' Governor of a Failing State." He criticised Newsom's presence at Davos, the handling of California's wildfires, the state's high-speed rail project, and urban crime rates. Trump concluded his post by questioning how someone with Newsom's record could consider a presidential run, calling it "unimaginable."
This followed Trump's surprisingly warm public remarks about the governor during his Davos speech, where he stated he "used to get along so great with Gavin" and called him "a good guy." Newsom, watching from the auditorium, responded with an incredulous stare and a bemused chuckle, foreshadowing the swift return to hostilities.
Widening the Circle of Conflict
The political sparring extended beyond the two principals. Newsom also exchanged barbs with Trump's Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent. Bessent insulted the governor's economic knowledge, comparing him to "Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken." Newsom retorted that the Treasury Secretary's comments about a Barbie doll sounded like "he was reading a diary and had just broken up with someone."
Bessent escalated the conflict in an interview with Politico, suggesting Newsom might be "cracking up" and was "in over his hairdo." He mocked the governor for brandishing satirical Trump-branded kneeling pads and for posing with Alex Soros, son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
Historical Context and Political Theatre
The Davos confrontation is the latest chapter in a long-running feud. Trump and Newsom have previously clashed over California's response to deadly wildfires and the federal deployment of ICE agents and the National Guard to Los Angeles. The World Economic Forum stage provided a global platform for this deeply personal and ideological conflict, highlighting the performative nature of modern political rivalry where public insults can mask more nuanced private interactions.
