DAVOS, Switzerland — California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said Wednesday that a scheduled appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos was abruptly canceled at the last minute, accusing the White House of applying pressure to block the governor from taking the stage.
Newsom had been set to participate in a fireside chat hosted by Fortune magazine at USA House, the official U.S. venue at the forum. His team says organizers informed them shortly before the event that the appearance was pulled due to a “venue-level decision” not to include an elected U.S. official in Wednesday’s programming.
A spokesperson for the governor said Newsom was expected to publicly rebut President Donald Trump’s earlier speech at the forum – part of the California Democrat’s broader effort to position himself as a counter to the president on the global stage.
The cancellation came amid a public back-and-forth between Newsom and Trump during the forum, further escalating the two leader’s troubled relationship. Earlier Wednesday, Newsom criticized Trump’s Davos remarks in an interview with CNN, calling the speech “remarkably insignificant” and dismissing Trump’s rhetoric about Greenland as unserious. The governor told reporters last Friday that he has not spoken with the president since June, when Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles.
A day earlier, the California Democrat – a likely 2028 presidential contender – also sharply criticized what he described as European leaders’ deference to Trump.
“People rolling over,” Newsom said. “People rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders… Nobel Prizes, they’re being given away. I mean it’s just pathetic.”
MORE: Newsom slams world leaders for ‘rolling over’ to Trump: ‘Stop being complicit’
After the governor’s appearance was pulled, Newsom’s press office posted on X accusing USA House – America’s official venue at Davos, which is partnered with the State Department – of bowing “under pressure from the White House and State Department.” Newsom reposted the message, adding, “How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?”
The White House pushed back forcefully, but did not address whether it played any role in the cancellation. In a statement, spokesperson Anna Kelly dismissed Newsom as a “third-rate governor” and criticized his presence in Switzerland rather than California.
Just before news of the programming change emerged, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply criticized Newsom in his speech at USA House.
Bessent said the Trump administration is coming to California to “crack down on waste, fraud and abuse,” and spent roughly a minute excoriating Newsom.
“I was told he was asked to give a speech on his signature policies but he’s not speaking, because one of his economic policies brought outward migration from California,” the secretary said. “Shame on him. He is too smug, too self absorbed, and too economically illiterate to know anything.”
Earlier in the day, Trump also referenced Newsom by name during his Davos speech, saying the two “used to get along so great.” Video showed Newsom laughing from the audience, as Trump hurled insults about the Golden State.
In a statement to ABC News, Fortune confirmed it was contacted by USA House about canceling Newsom’s appearance.
“Governor Newsom had been invited to participate in a Fortune conversation at USA House in Davos,” the magazine said. “Subsequently, USA House determined it would not be able to accommodate the Governor’s participation and communicated that decision to Fortune.”
The magazine said its editorial conversations are organized independently, but noted that high-profile international events can be affected by logistics, security and access considerations involving multiple stakeholders. Fortune did not specify what led to USA House’s decision and said it looks forward to future conversations with Newsom.
The event, which focused on business leaders and CEOs and was livestreamed Wednesday, concluded without Newsom appearing.
Newsom’s office does not allege that Fortune played any role in the cancellation. ABC News has reached out to USA House for comment. The State Department referred to the White House’s statement.
The governor is still scheduled to speak at Davos on Thursday morning with the news outlet Semafor.
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