California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) sharply criticized European and other global leaders Tuesday during the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging them to take a firmer stance against policies of former U.S. President Donald Trump and warning that traditional diplomacy was failing.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the elite annual meeting, Newsom rebuked leaders for what he described as “complicity” and “rolling over” in the face of Trump’s foreign policy and trade tactics, including his controversial push to acquire Greenland and threats of tariffs against allies. He used expletive-laden language to emphasize his point, saying leaders needed to “stand tall and firm — have a backbone” and joking that he “should’ve brought a bunch of knee pads.”
“Stop being complicit,” Newsom said in a clip posted to the social media platform X. “It’s time to stand tall and firm, have a backbone. I can’t take this complicity — people rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders.”
Newsom also claimed diplomacy with Trump’s administration “doesn’t work” at this moment, asserting that leaders must confront what he characterized as aggressive and destabilizing tactics.
In fact, however, there are many signs that European leaders agree with Trump more than they disagree with him on various policies, including Greenland.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced during a forum discussion at Davos that “Trump is right” on Greenland and that NATO and EU nations must do more “collectively” to ensure its security.
BOMBSHELL – TRUMP IS RIGHT!
An incredible moment as NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte shocks the world, declares President Trump is RIGHT on defending Greenland and the Arctic from Russia and China:
"Trump is right. We have to do more there! We have to protect the Arctic… pic.twitter.com/iyV6fm3nXg
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) January 21, 2026
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang also praised the president’s economic and foreign policies, telling Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, “President Trump wants to reindustrialize the United States, and AI is really a perfect time to do it. For AI, you have to build infrastructure, and that infrastructure includes chip factories, computer factories, and AI factories—and we’re building all 3 in the the United States.”
.@nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: "@POTUS wants to reindustrialize the U.S., and AI is really a perfect time to do it. For AI, you have to build infrastructure, and that infrastructure includes chip factories, computer factories, and AI factories—and we're building all 3 in the U.S." pic.twitter.com/ubZk2VRjzZ
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 21, 2026