President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom reportedly had a friendly backstage chat at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, despite the recent barbs exchanged in public.
Political commentator Mark Halperin posted Friday on social media, “According to sources in both camps, the two men engaged in affable small talk backstage in a wide hallway area before the president’s speech.”
“There was friendly banter all around, and mutual laughter when the president announced, ‘Gavin, we’re good,’” Halperin said. “Newsom, no stranger to faux towel snapping, gave Trump a little s*** in a jovial and jokey manner.”
Halperin noted that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and press secretary Karoline Leavitt also engaged Newsom in a friendly manner. In contrast, deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller was “less enthusiastic” about joining in the bipartisan moment.
NEWS: Turns out Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom had some friendly private time in Davos.
According to sources in both camps, the two men engaged in affable small talk backstage in a wide hallway area before the president’s speech.
Trump was, of course, with his Secret Service…
— Mark Halperin (@MarkHalperin) January 23, 2026
Newsom, who is expected to run for president in 2028, took some shots at Trump while in Davos, including telling a reporter regarding the controversy over Greenland that it was time to stand up to the American leader.
“It’s time to have principles. It’s time to stand strong,” Newsom said. “I can’t take this complicity. People rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders … I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage, at least from an American perspective. It’s embarrassing … Diplomacy with Donald Trump? He’s a T. rex. You mate with him, or he devours you .”
NEW – Governor Newsom says Europeans should “stand tall and firm, have a backbone… I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders… Diplomacy with Donald Trump? He’s a T-Rex. You mate with him or he devours you.” pic.twitter.com/haa3UNwOFr
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 20, 2026
While speaking to the World Economic Forum, Newsom brought a pair of kneepads to illustrate his point.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom shows off knee pads for CEOs ‘selling out’ to the Trump administration
He said the red knee pads were available to buy via a website he had created
Newsom has accused world leaders of “rolling over” for U.S. President Donald Trump#Davos2026… pic.twitter.com/6xAGoVemTk
— Susan Li (@SusanLiTV) January 22, 2026
Trump wrote Thursday in a Truth Social post, “Gavin Newscum, as a ‘Lame Duck’ Governor of a Failing State, should not be at Davos running around screaming for the attention of Foreign Leaders, and embarrassing our Country.”
“He made a mockery of himself, and everybody, including his staff, knows it! He should get the permits so that people can build their homes destroyed by the fire that he could have prevented if he would have allowed water to flow from the Pacific Northwest,” Trump continued.
Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 08:23 PM EST 01.22.26
Gavin Newscum, as a “Lame Duck” Governor of a Failing State, should not be at Davos running around screaming for the attention of Foreign Leaders, and embarrassing our Country. He made a mockery of himself, and everybody,…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 23, 2026
“He should finish his monstrously ‘overbudget and behind schedule’ Railroad, from San Francisco to L.A., one of the Greatest Public Disasters in History, and focus on stopping Crime in the streets of California Cities — Then finish out his term, and GO HOME!”
Trump concluded, “With a record like he’s got, the ruination of one of the most beautiful places on Earth, where people are leaving in droves, it is unimaginable that he could run for President but, who knows, it’s a very strange World!”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took some shots at Newsom at Davos, saying the governor, “who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris.”
🚨 SCOTT BESSENT: “Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris.” pic.twitter.com/u02IkxGo8L
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 21, 2026
Bessent added on Friday, “I think he may be in over his hairdo. Being on the national stage is very different than being governor of California with no signature achievements.”
NEW: Secretary Scott Bessent rips Gavin Newsom, says he brought his knee pads to Davos for his meeting with Alex Soros.
“Being on the national stage is very different than being governor of California with no signature achievements…”
“I could say Gavin Newsom is a Brontosaurus… pic.twitter.com/PBGzbZv0Qv
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 23, 2026
“I could say Gavin Newsom is a Brontosaurus with a brain the size of a walnut,” the treasury secretary added. “And if you brought the knee pads, maybe that was for his meeting with Alex Soros.”
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