Trump and Axelrod Decry Newsom’s Davos Remarks as ‘Self-Puffery’ Amid Outcry

President Donald Trump and Democratic strategist David Axelrod both criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday following his remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Newsom as “screaming for the attention of Foreign Leaders.” Axelrod condemned what he described as Newsom’s “self-puffery” during the appearance.

During an interview with Semafor, Newsom asserted he brought “moral authority” to Davos as governor of the “fourth-largest economy in the world.” He stated: “We can punch above our weight. We can come here with formal authority and a little moral authority. And I tell you, we need a little moral authority in our body politic in the United States of America today.”

Trump rejected Newsom’s characterization of his role at the forum, declaring: “Gavin Newscum, as a ‘Lame Duck’ Governor of a Failing State, should not be at Davos running around screaming for the attention of Foreign Leaders, and embarrassing our Country. He made a mockery of himself, and everybody, including his staff, knows it!”

Axelrod criticized Newsom’s tone, calling it an exercise in self-promotion: “This ‘Why can’t people just be as courageous as ME?’ routine is tedious,” he wrote on X. “Haven’t we seen enough self-puffery in our leaders?”

Newsom, who has been termed out as governor, is viewed by some Democrats as the party’s top candidate for president in 2028.

Trump further targeted Newsom’s record with remarks including: “He should get the permits so that people can build their homes destroyed by the fire that he could have prevented if he would have allowed water to flow from the Pacific Northwest. He should finish his monstrously ‘overbudget and behind schedule’ Railroad, from San Francisco to L.A., one of the Greatest Public Disasters in History, and focus on stopping Crime in the streets of California Cities — Then finish out his term, and GO HOME!”

Trump concluded: “With a record like he’s got, the ruination of one of the most beautiful places on Earth, where people are leaving in droves, it is unimaginable that he could run for President but, who knows, it’s a very strange World!”

The White House echoed Trump’s sentiment, with spokesperson Anna Kelly stating: “No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California.”