Davos (Switzerland)

California Governor Gavin Newsom appeared at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to mount a sharp attack on US President Donald Trump, repeatedly criticising what he described as a breakdown of democratic norms in the United States.

About 10 minutes into his interview with Semafor's Ben Smith, Newsom said the country was living under "the rule of Don." Referring to core democratic principles, he said, "Co-equal branches of government, the rule of law, popular sovereignty," and asked, "Tell me that that reflects the America you read about today." Newsom further claimed, "There's no rule of law. It's the rule of Don," as he accused the US Congress of being complacent.

During the discussion held on the fourth day of the WEF, Newsom also criticised American universities, law firms and corporate leaders, alleging they were yielding to the administration. To underscore his point, he displayed bright red knee pads meant for executives, without naming any CEOs. "There are knee pads that are available to purchase. The last round of knee pads sold out just as our law firms are selling out," he said.

Newsom, a long-time attendee of Davos, was repeatedly met with applause as he delivered several impassioned, debate-like monologues during the session. He attended the forum multiple times earlier, including during his tenure as mayor of San Francisco from 2004 to 2011.

Newsom had announced last week that one of his key objectives in Davos was to push back against Trump's outlook on the future of capitalism.

Trump referred to Newsom in his speech at Davos on Wednesday, saying he was aware the California Governor was present at the forum. Trump called Newsom a "good guy" and said he used to "get along so great" with him.

Newsom also faced a setback at the venue after he was denied entry to the US House, even though he was scheduled to participate in a fireside chat. Following the incident, Newsom criticised the administration in a post on X, writing: "How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?"

Several hours after Trump's speech, Newsom was offered an invitation to the US House for a "VIP Nightcap", which he declined.

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Meanwhile, Newsom also traded remarks with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday and Wednesday. At a press conference on Wednesday, Bessent attacked Newsom personally, calling him "smug, too self-absorbed, and too economically illiterate to know anything."

In recent years, Newsom has also positioned himself as a prominent critic of leading Republicans and has frequently clashed with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who had earlier emerged as Trump's main challenger for the Republican presidential nomination.