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bigtree

(94,059 posts) Tue Jan 20, 2026, 06:45 PM Jan 20

Newsom didn't do anyone any favors by blowing up at the European leaders [View all]

...and like all macho displays in response to political challenges, the governor's ranting contained more heat than light.

Newsom torches ‘pathetic’ European leaders for bowing to Trump: ‘I should’ve brought kneepads’

California Governor Gavin Newsom tore into “pathetic” and “embarrassing” European allies for how they are responding to U.S. President Donald Trump, accusing them of “rolling over” as the White House upends NATO in its pursuit of control of Greenland from Denmark.

“I can’t take this complicity. People rolling over. I should have bought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders,” Newsom, a Democrat and potential candidate for the presidency in 2028, told reporters at the World Economic Forum‘s annual gathering in Davos.

He added: “I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage, at least from an American perspective. It’s embarrassing.”

“I’ve seen this in the United States, the supine Congress. It’s time to stand tall and strong, stand united”.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/gavin-newsom-european-leaders-pathetic-171337182.html

“This guy is a wrecking ball. I hope people are waking up to what we are dealing with. This is code red,” Newsom continued.

“You guys are still playing by an old set of rules, everybody in the globe is, with this guy. He’s unmoored. It’s the law of the jungle. It’s the rule of Don, and I hope it’s dawning on the world what we’re up against. This is serious. This guy is—he’s not mad, he’s very intentional. But he’s unmoored and he’s unhinged.”

The Democrat also accused leaders of saying different things in public and in private about Trump. “Everybody’s talking behind his back. They’re laughing at him. Meanwhile, they’re sucking up to him. It’s embarrassing…This is not diplomacy, it’s stupidity,” Newsom said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gavin-newsom-slams-pathetic-us-allies-over-donald-trump/ar-AA1UA51y

...while it's nice to see someone standing up to Trump, it has to be bemusing for the European leaders to see the governor bashing them for something that is rapidly spinning out of control in his own country, ignoring their own individual interests are just as rapidly turning away from America because of our voters' insistence in again elevating Trump back onto the world stage.

It's not the Europeans' responsibility to bring Trump to heel; not as much as they are charged with looking after their own interests; and now they're turning away from decades of cooperation on concerns which the U.S. is rapidly abandoning support for, both materially and rhetorically under Trump.

They can reasonably ask where they can rely on America right now for anything other than the inevitability of some arbitrary punitive action directed at them at the point of Trump's latest pique.

They don't need to growl at Trump or beat their chests like teenagers in a school fight. They have democracies which will determine whether negotiation or fighting makes sense to their interests.

And certainly on this world stage, at this world economic summit, cooperation between nations is meant to take precedent over the internecine squabbling that Trump would like everyone else to descend into while picking over the rubble he's caused.

Gov. Newsom should be careful imagining the Europeans don't know how to take care of themselves in the face of autocratic figureheads pushing their weight around. Their people know how to take to the streets to demand the changes they want; less so here in the States, albeit learning.

But more than that obviation, Europeans must have had their fill of Americans talking down to them right now, their countryfolk now at the mercy of political outcomes which Newsom and others in America have failed to effectively manage among our own people.

Personally, I've long had my fill of macho politics that substitutes volume for effect or substance.

If Newsom wants Europeans to do something more to confront Trump; if he has specific ideas beyond being 'tall and strong;' he should spell those out more succinctly than the full-throated deriding he offered them today for practicing diplomacy at a diplomatic forum - do the work of diplomacy with our European allies so that we can all as he admonished, "stand united."

103 replies

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Highlight:

Newsom didn't do anyone any favors by blowing up at the European leaders [View all] bigtree Jan 20 OP

Yeah he needs to be more weak and ineffectual like Merrick Garland. BannonsLiver Jan 20 #1

Yup, par for the course LR3 Jan 20 #3

Um, no Dave says Jan 21 #50

You are absolutely right. sheshe2 Jan 20 #2

Appeasement didn't work out too well for Europe in the 1930's newdeal2 Jan 20 #4

I was disturbed when I heard him earlier today. brer cat Jan 20 #5

He didn't "blow up" MorbidButterflyTat Jan 20 #6

So he didn't say... TheProle Jan 20 #12

Newsom is right Skittles Jan 20 #15

That wasn't my question to the previous poster, but noted. TheProle Jan 20 #16

He was addressing the press. MorbidButterflyTat Jan 22 #94

Not arguing anymore TheProle Jan 23 #102

Mark Carney appears to be the only leader who truly gets it peggysue2 Jan 22 #68

Right on time. Kingofalldems Jan 20 #33

What do you mean? MorbidButterflyTat Jan 22 #93

+ 1. If I were casting a remake of The Darkest Hour starring DUers I know who would be playing Lord Halifax. BannonsLiver Jan 20 #13

Thanks for the video IcyPeas Jan 20 #20

You're welcome, and I agree with you. MorbidButterflyTat Jan 22 #95

i'm a considered writer, not a kneejerk poster, and I always make the effort to be clear bigtree Jan 20 #23

European parliaments have frank discussion, at cachukis Jan 20 #28

Nothing personal MorbidButterflyTat Jan 22 #96

He did not creon Jan 21 #53

If he is planning to Greg_In_SF Jan 20 #7

Right....because the other party is Bettie Jan 22 #72

You're right Greg_In_SF Jan 22 #85

There is nothing remotely MAGAt about Gavin Newsom MorbidButterflyTat Jan 22 #97

Post removed Post removed Jan 23 #100

Quite the ironic assertions Torchlight Jan 23 #101

Non-ugly American Starbeach Jan 20 #8

not even wrong creon Jan 20 #9

THANK YOU Skittles Jan 20 #18

We are always in transition. Trump has spoiled the cachukis Jan 20 #10

Agree IcyPeas Jan 20 #22

DURec leftstreet Jan 20 #11

Sorry he's absolutely right fujiyamasan Jan 20 #14

I would say he is right. It's a fucking embarassment from all corners. Not excusing any US politician. boston bean Jan 20 #17

Totally agree with you. nt Raine Jan 20 #19

Newsom is right. And Europe consistently looks weak. Renew Deal Jan 20 #21

Europe looks weak because they're dealing with internal issues haele Jan 20 #30

What do you mean by TimeToGo Jan 20 #35

Sorry, typing on my phone, will correct the stupid haele Jan 20 #36

😎 We've all been there TimeToGo Jan 20 #40

I couldn't agree more Fiendish Thingy Jan 20 #24

He's right though. GoodRaisin Jan 20 #25

Maybe. I think that they get it. themaguffin Jan 20 #26

I'm on Newsom's side here. The entire world needs to be more vocal in their stances against Trump. LonePirate Jan 20 #27

Hell no. TIME TO KICK SOME ASS. Irish_Dem Jan 20 #29

"Nice guys finish last." Leo Durocher anciano Jan 20 #31

..in bed. Qutzupalotl Jan 21 #58

I voted for him for governor but I'd rather have someone else as President kimbutgar Jan 20 #32

I support Newsom's remarks and attitude 100%.. Escape Jan 20 #34

Wondering what European leaders think of America voters. Emile Jan 20 #37

I find nothing wrong with what he said. nt Chalco Jan 20 #38

Newsom is right about the complicity of the world's superrich. He's doing his part. I don't see any other Democratic ancianita Jan 20 #39

how is this fellow the 'Democratic cause? ' bigtree Jan 21 #46

Thanks for your usual thoughtful post. Much appreciated. I want to point out that he is frustrated, because ancianita Jan 21 #48

Nothing worse than mealy mouthed apologists & critics of courage NotHardly Jan 20 #41

Not a good look for Newsom. OGBuzz Jan 20 #42

Hmmm GusBob Jan 21 #43

Would giving specifics be viewed as treason? n/t BadgerKid Jan 21 #44

Meh, when you lead an economy as large as California's, you get to say certain things JonAndKatePlusABird Jan 21 #45

I doubt they cared at this point beyond bemusement bigtree Jan 21 #47

Sorry, I'm sick and tired of meek capitulation. Arthur_Frain Jan 21 #49

Well, The High Road markodochartaigh Jan 21 #51

our votes for Obama kept the Democrats in control of the WH for EIGHT YEARS bigtree Jan 22 #62

Yes--I felt it was a bit over the top with the "knee pads" and "pathetic" being thrown around crimycarny Jan 21 #52

Newsom was right on substance but still made a strategic error. tritsofme Jan 21 #54

I like the fire Sugarcoated Jan 21 #55

No one whose judgment included marrying Kimberley Guilfoyle DJ Synikus Makisimus Jan 21 #56

I disagree with some points, agree with others, and just plain don't markodochartaigh Jan 21 #57

I think this is a load of CRAP, to criticize one of the few Democratic Party leaders Jack Valentino Jan 22 #59

so bigtree Jan 22 #60

'...and like all macho displays in response to political challenges, the OP's response contained more heat than light' Jack Valentino Jan 22 #89

it would be a different discussion if it centered on what I wrote in the op bigtree Jan 22 #92

Thank you, amigo.... My main fault on this forum has to be Jack Valentino Jan 22 #98

I stand with Gavin Blues Heron Jan 22 #61

👍 👏 💯 🗣🔊 ColoringFool Jan 22 #63

why is he attacking the Europeans? bigtree Jan 22 #65

Did you read what he said? It's a wake up call. Blues Heron Jan 22 #66

did I read it? bigtree Jan 22 #67

Your overreacting , this is 2026- there is a new, less uptight electorate out there, the fuddy duddy era is over Blues Heron Jan 22 #70

you're bigtree Jan 22 #71

This thread sure went south on you pretty quickly. BannonsLiver Jan 22 #73

I think Newsome was absolutely right. That is the problem with almost all politicians and so called leaders, Autumn Jan 22 #64

We need more Gavin Newsoms and less tone police Renew Deal Jan 22 #69

Hmmm, disinvesting in the US FHRRK Jan 22 #74

no, what you wrote is specious bigtree Jan 22 #75

Let me give some general advice FHRRK Jan 22 #81

it's already assumed in this format that respondants are positing their own opinions bigtree Jan 22 #82

Again, IMO, people are looking for fighters FHRRK Jan 22 #83

do you know what specious means? superficially plausible, but actually wrong bigtree Jan 22 #84

For the love of all things holy FHRRK Jan 22 #86

let me put it more plainly bigtree Jan 22 #87

"I lied..." FHRRK Jan 22 #88

did you tell the truth? bigtree Jan 22 #90

Whew! FHRRK Jan 22 #91

Bullshit. Newsom was brilliant. He's positioned himself as the anti-trump. Euro leaders want that. Sibelius Fan Jan 22 #76

he also positioned himself as anti-European leader bigtree Jan 22 #79

at least he's trying - which is a lot more than so many other leaders samsingh Jan 22 #77

but that's not the issue I'm raising here bigtree Jan 22 #78

Newsom really fucked over the elderly and disabled CountAllVotes Jan 22 #80

Recommended. H2O Man Jan 22 #99

K&R LetMyPeopleVote Jan 23 #103