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Gavin Newsom Heads to Davos to Challenge Trump/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ California Governor Gavin Newsom will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos next week to offer a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump’s economic policies. Positioned as a potential Democratic presidential contender, Newsom aims to champion California’s model of global openness and innovation while condemning what he calls Trump’s self-serving, anti-market agenda. His remarks will follow Trump’s speech and include private meetings with global leaders and executives.

Gavin Newsom to Confront Trump at Davos: Quick Looks

• Gov. Gavin Newsom will attend Davos 2026 to present an economic counterpoint to Trump.
• The California Democrat is scheduled to speak Thursdayone day after Trump’s appearance.
• Newsom accused Trump of “crony capitalism” and placing “Trump First” over America First.
• He will meet privately with foreign leaders and business executives.
• Newsom claims Trump’s policies undermine free markets and punish dissent.
• He plans to call out Davos attendees for being “complicit” in Trump’s agenda.
• Newsom’s political site is selling satirical kneepads mocking corporate compliance.
• The trip builds on his State of the State address and 2025 Brazil climate summit appearance.
• Newsom will promote California as a model of open, innovation-driven governance.
• His appearance adds fuel to presidential campaign speculation for 2028.

Deep Look: Newsom to Confront Trump’s Economic Policies at Davos 2026

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND — In a bold move on the international stage, California Governor Gavin Newsom is set to attend the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos next week, casting himself as a high-profile counterweight to President Donald Trump. The trip marks an escalation in Newsom’s ongoing critique of Trump’s leadership and appears strategically timed to boost his growing national and international profile as a potential Democratic presidential contender.

Newsom is scheduled to speak Thursdayone day after President Trump addresses what will reportedly be the largest-ever U.S. delegation at the forum. According to Newsom’s team, the governor will use the opportunity to “forcefully confront” Trump’s policies and present California’s economic model as a forward-thinking alternative.

Newsom’s Message: California vs. Trump’s America

In a fiery statement ahead of the trip, Newsom laid out the sharp contrast he intends to draw:

Framing his appearance as a defense of democratic capitalismNewsom says he plans to expose Trump’s record as an “assault on the free market,” accusing the president of using government power to intimidate businesses, silence criticsand personally benefit from public office.

According to Newsom’s office, he will highlight Trump’s reported efforts to pressure U.S. companiesdemand loyalty from CEOs, and have the federal government take stakes in private enterprisesall while under the guise of economic nationalism.

Confronting the Elite: Davos Attendees in the Crosshairs

But Trump won’t be Newsom’s only target. The California governor also plans to take aim at Davos attendees themselvessuggesting that many of the business leaders, law firms, and academic institutions present have become complicit by accommodating or enabling the Trump administration’s controversial policies.

This mirrors a confrontational stance he took last month at the New York Times DealBook Summitwhere he accused corporate America of kowtowing to Trump. Newsom has gone so far as to mockingly sell $100 red kneepads branded with Trump’s signature on his political website, a jab at those he claims are “lining up to bend the knee.”

A Broader Message: California as Global Counterweight

Newsom’s trip is not just about criticizing Trump—it’s also about promoting California as an alternative economic and cultural model. In both rhetoric and action, Newsom has positioned the state as a kind of “quasi-nation” that stands for open markets, innovation, education, climate leadership, and diversity.

Newsom has used similar international platforms before. At the 2025 UN Climate Talks in Brazilhe cast California as a global climate leadercriticizing Trump-era rollbacks of environmental protections. In his recent State of the State addresshe again emphasized the state’s role in counterbalancing Washington’s direction.

Political Implications: 2028 in Sight?

Though Newsom has not officially declared intentions to run for president, his international speaking engagements, high-profile statements, and national donor outreach suggest he is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential campaign.

By aligning himself in direct opposition to Trump, Newsom is positioning himself as the progressive foil to populist conservatismwhile elevating California’s role as a bastion of democratic values and inclusive economic growth.

His Davos appearance may offer global investors and political leaders a preview of what a post-Trump Democratic vision might look like—one that blends progressive ideals with economic pragmatism on the world stage.

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