California Governor Gavin Newsom delivered a blistering assessment of global leaders and called their responses to President Trump’s foreign policy initiatives “pathetic,” as per The Hill. The governor, speaking from Davos, Switzerland, made it incredibly clear that he thinks many international figures are being far too soft when dealing with the White House. He insists it’s time for them to stop being so passive and compliant.
When asked specifically about European concerns regarding the White House’s recent pressure concerning Greenland, Newsom had a simple, direct response: “Yeah, it’s time to buck up.” Newsom demanded that these leaders “get serious” and “stop being complicit.” He feels strongly that they need to “stand tall and firm, have a backbone.” He referenced a “supine Congress” that says one thing privately via text or tweet and something entirely different publicly.
Newsom later elaborated on his core frustration, stating he personally “can’t take this complicity” anymore. He summarized his position powerfully on X, telling allies and business leaders that they need to understand one crucial thing: “America’s allies and business leaders need to understand this: There’s no diplomacy with Donald Trump.” He then added a very blunt directive: “Get off your knees and grow a spine.”
That’s a serious call to action, and it certainly captures the attention of anyone paying attention to global affairs right now
The governor’s strong words follow a series of controversial foreign policy moves coming directly from the Trump administration. One of the most notable recent initiatives has been the push to acquire Greenland, which is technically Danish territory. President Trump has been eyeing the Arctic island for a while now, and he didn’t dismiss using force to take it over.
The administration has also been focused on actions related to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. These are high-stakes situations, and Newsom clearly feels the lack of international firmness is only enabling more aggressive stances from the White House.
Newsom also offered an insight into how he believes the president operates on the world stage, suggesting a clear strategy for allies moving forward. He told reporters that President Trump “thrives on finding vulnerabilities and weakness and he exploits them.” If you’re a world leader dealing with Trump, you can expect him to return to those weak points “over and over and over and over again.” He stressed that the only thing that is truly effective and what the president “doesn’t respond well to, is strength.”
The California governor is often viewed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, and he hasn’t been shy about pushing back hard against Trump lately. You can see this political tension play out every day. His press office even takes the fight directly to social media, often mocking President Trump using a posting style that mimics the president’s own, complete with all caps words and brash statements.
Published: Jan 20, 2026 04:00 pm