California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing intense criticism after using the Munich Security Conference to undermine President Trump on the world stage, telling foreign leaders the current administration is “temporary” and will be “gone in three years.” The unprecedented remarks from a state governor have raised serious questions about whether Newsom is conducting shadow diplomacy to boost his own 2028 presidential ambitions rather than serving the interests of his state or country.
During his European tour, Newsom didn’t just cross the line into federal territory—he trampled all over it. The Democratic governor cast California as a “stable and reliable” alternative to the U.S. government and openly mocked world leaders for cooperating with President Trump, calling them “pathetic” for working with the administration. In comments that drew gasps even from critics accustomed to his grandstanding, Newsom repeated a tasteless joke from Davos, saying he “should have brought a bunch of knee pads” for foreign leaders who he believes have bowed too easily to Trump. While such inflammatory rhetoric may play well with his progressive base, it risks seriously damaging America’s relationships with key allies at a time when unity on issues like NATO funding and Arctic sovereignty is critical.
@seanhannity Trump: “I watched AOC answering questions in Munich. This was not a good look for the United States. I watched Gavin Newscum answering questions in Munich. This was a bad look for our country… These two people are incompetent.”
President Trump didn’t mince words in his response, calling Newsom’s actions “inappropriate” and warning British leaders to steer clear of the California governor. “The U.K.’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum,” Trump told Politico, making clear that foreign governments treating a state governor as a diplomatic peer crosses a serious line. The president is absolutely right—Newsom’s behavior creates dangerous confusion about who actually speaks for the United States on the international stage. While governors have traditionally engaged in limited economic and cultural exchanges with other countries, Newsom’s aggressive global presence paired with direct attacks on a sitting president marks an unprecedented escalation that looks more like a presidential campaign than legitimate state business.
Newsom’s office predictably brushed off the criticism, with a spokesperson accusing the president of selling out America’s future to “coal and Big Oil” and insisting foreign leaders are “choosing California’s vision.” The governor signed a clean energy deal with U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and an agreement with Ukraine’s Lviv region involving California companies in reconstruction efforts. But here’s the real question: Is Newsom actually advancing California’s interests, or is he using taxpayer money to build his resume for a White House run? His timing, his rhetoric, and his choice of international stages all point to a governor who sees himself not as a public servant but as a president-in-waiting. Americans deserve leaders who respect the constitutional boundaries of their office, not ambitious politicians who treat foreign policy as their personal campaign trail.
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