Gavin Newsom has delivered a blistering critique of Europe’s political leadership, accusing them of “rolling over” for Donald Trump as the US president ramps up threats over Greenland and trade.
Speaking to Sky News from the World Economic Forum in Davos, the California governor said European leaders had failed to stand up to Trump’s escalating demands and warned that continued deference would only embolden him further.
Newsom, a senior Democrat and frequent Trump critic, said the moment demanded resolve rather than accommodation, calling on European governments to “buck up”, “get serious” and stop being “complicit”.
🔥 ‘Rolling over’ for Trump
Asked whether he had a message for Europe following Trump’s tariff threats and renewed push to take control of Greenland, Newsom did not hold back.
“I can’t take this complicity, people rolling over,” he said. “I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders.”
He accused leaders of “handing out crowns” to Trump through their cautious responses, describing the behaviour as “pathetic” and “embarrassing”.
Newsom said the pattern of engagement had allowed Trump to dominate the agenda while forcing allies into a reactive position.
🌍 ‘Stand tall and have a backbone’
The governor urged European leaders to abandon what he described as outdated diplomatic instincts when dealing with Trump, arguing that appeasement only strengthens his leverage.
“Stand tall. Have a backbone,” he said, adding that Europe had repeatedly failed to assert itself in moments that demanded collective resolve.
While Newsom stopped short of explicitly endorsing retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump’s trade threats, he said Europe needed to fundamentally rethink how it engages with the US president.
He warned that attempts to placate Trump had left European governments exposed as tensions escalate.
🦖 ‘A T-Rex: mate with him or he devours you’
In one of his most striking remarks, Newsom compared Trump to a prehistoric predator, suggesting traditional diplomacy was ineffective when dealing with him.
“He’s a T-Rex,” Newsom said. “You mate with him or he devours you.”
He warned that European leaders risk being “devoured” politically and economically if they continue down what he described as a submissive path.
The comments come as Trump has threatened sweeping tariffs against several European nations, including the UK, Denmark, Germany and France, over their refusal to back his plan to acquire Greenland.
⏰ ‘This was predictable’
Newsom argued that Europe should have anticipated the current crisis well in advance, criticising leaders for failing to prepare for a more confrontational US presidency.
“A year ago we should have been having this conversation and they didn’t,” he said. “And now you’re paying the price.”
He added that “any objective observer” could have foreseen the situation unfolding as it has, given Trump’s long-standing hostility to multilateralism and alliances.
⚠️ A warning to allies
Newsom’s intervention underscores growing unease among Democrats about the international consequences of Trump’s second term, particularly for NATO allies and global trade.
While European leaders have largely responded to Trump’s threats with caution and calls for dialogue, Newsom’s remarks highlight a contrasting view: that restraint is being read as weakness.
As pressure mounts over Greenland and tariffs, his comments are likely to resonate with critics who argue that Trump’s tactics thrive on hesitation – and that only firm, unified resistance can blunt them.
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