‘You mate with him, or he devours you’ : Gavin Newsom suggests ‘knee pads’ for Europe against ‘T-Rex’ Donald Trump

California Governor Gavin Newsom is not known to hold his tongue when it comes to criticizing President Trump, and on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, Newsom blasted how European leaders handle Trump at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

In his remarks to reporters, Newsom said European governments have been “played” in their dealings with the president, while lamenting that he “should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders.” Newsom aimed at what he described as a pattern of “rolling over” by world leaders in response to Trump’s demands.“I can’t take this complicity,” Newsom said.

“The Europeans should decide for themselves”

Newsom then directly addressed European leaders: “The Europeans should decide for themselves what to do, but one thing they can’t do is what they’ve been doing. They’ve been played. This guy,” meaning Trump, “is playing folks for fools,” adding that Trump is like a “T. rex — you mate with him, or he devours you.”

Newsom urged leaders to “stand tall, stand firm, stand united” instead of continuing what he characterized as weak or polite diplomacy, telling reporters that the current approach amounts to “embarrassing” behavior on the world stage, including Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado “regifting” her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, which Newsom called “pathetic.”

Macron: Trump wants a “new colonial approach”

The World Economic Forum in Davos, a yearly gathering of global political and business elites, has this year been overshadowed by sharp debates over U.S.–Europe relations, particularly over Greenland. Trump has argued that control of Greenland is necessary for U.S. strategic and security interests, a position that has alarmed European leaders, sparking talks of retaliatory tariffs and diplomatic pushback.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at the forum, reiterated Europe’s commitment to Arctic security and economic independence. Meanwhile, other leaders at Davos — including French President Emmanuel Macron — have expressed deep concern that Trump’s Greenland strategy reflects a “new colonial approach” and risks undermining post-war alliances.

At the same time, Newsom’s comments play into wider debates within U.S. politics ahead of the 2028 presidential election. As a potential candidate, Newsom has positioned himself as a leading critic of Trump’s policies, arguing for stronger allied unity and a more assertive approach to diplomacy.

The knee pads remarks are part of a broader rhetorical campaign by Newsom to cast European acquiescence to Trump’s tactics as “pathetic” and symptomatic of a failure to protect shared democratic values. Critics of Newsom, however, argue that his comments risk alienating allies and oversimplifying complex diplomatic negotiations.

As the World Economic Forum continues this week, the Greenland issue and transatlantic trade disputes are expected to remain at the forefront of discussions among global leaders. How European governments respond to both Trump’s demands and Newsom’s high-profile rebukes may have lasting implications for diplomatic alliances and global economic policy in 2026.