DAVOS, Swtizerland (TNND) — The controversy between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Trump administration continued on Wednesday after the governor’s office claimed he was denied entry to an official U.S.-designated venue at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
“Under pressure from the White House and State Department, USA House (a church acting as the official U.S. pavilion) is now denying entry to [Gov. Newsom] to speak with media after Fortune — the official media partner — invited him to speak,” Newsom’s office said on X.
Newsom was allegedly invited to participate in a “fireside chat” with an editor from Fortune at the American venue, which states it does not represent the U.S. government and does not organize official government programming.
“How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?” Newsom responded on social media.
During an interview with news outlet Semafor, Newsom said Trump “made sure it was canceled” and that “it’s consistent with this administration and their authoritarian tendencies.”
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement to The Washington Post that “no one knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California,” and did not confirm if Newsom was prevented from entering the venue.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also bashed Newsom’s economic policies ahead of the scheduled chat.
“I was told he was asked to give a speech on his signature policies, but he’s not speaking because what have his economic policies brought?” Bessent said. “He is here hobnobbing with the global elite while his California citizens are still homeless.”
Trump criticized Newsom’s leadership during his speech on Wednesday, saying the Democratic governor should contact the White House and ask for help with his state.
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“Gavin is a good guy, and if he needed it, I would do it in a heartbeat. We did help them a lot in Los Angeles,” Trump said while cameras captured Newsom smiling and appearing to laugh at the comment.
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