SACRAMENTO\u00a0\u2014\u00a0California Gov. Gavin Newsom sharply criticized world leaders while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week, faulting them for their \u201ccomplicity\u201d and failure to confront President Trump\u2019s aggressive posture on issues such as Greenland and trade.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters there, Newsom urged European and other global leaders to \u201cstand tall and firm\u201d and to \u201chave a backbone,\u201d bemoaning that too many have been \u201crolling over\u201d in the face of Trump\u2019s actions and rhetoric. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just pathetic,\u201d Newsom told reporters.<\/a> <\/p>\n He quipped that he \u201cshould\u2019ve brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders,\u201d a retort Newsom has become fond of leveling against those he feels supine their duties. He admonished the suggestion that Europeans could continue to approach diplomacy with Trump as they have previous presidents. Newsom called Trump a \u201cT-Rex.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou mate with him, or he devours you, one or the other,\u201d Newsom said. <\/p>\n His comments came as the forum grappled with heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly debates over Trump\u2019s controversial push involving Greenland \u2014 a flashpoint that has drawn warnings from European leaders and underscored wider concerns about the erosion of traditional alliances and global norms. <\/p>\n On Tuesday, stocks slumped on Wall Street <\/a>after Trump threatened to hit eight European countries with new tariffs over his attempts to assert American control over Greenland.<\/p>\n Trump is scheduled to speak Wednesday at the World Economic Forum, where he is expected to try to convince Americans he can make housing more affordable<\/a>. However, many onlookers will be watching what Trump has to say about his desire to acquire Greenland.<\/p>\n The annual event opened Monday and is a four-day gathering of world leaders with the stated mission of engaging in \u201cforward-looking discussions to address global issues and set priorities.\u201d <\/p>\n Trump\u2019s attendance comes after his administration opted to skip the annual United Nations climate policy summit in Bel\u00e9m, Brazil, in November, with Newsom instead attending as a proxy for the United States. <\/p>\n