On the 20th, California Governor Newsom openly criticized European leaders for being "weak and incompetent" in the face of U.S. President Trump while attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, saying that they should "show some backbone."
That day, he posted two videos of his interviews in Switzerland on his personal social media account.
In the videos, a media reporter asks Newsom what he would say to Europeans who are "worried about the White House's recent remarks about Greenland." He replied that European leaders should "stand tall, hold their ground, and show some backbone," and stop acting as Trump's "accomplices."
Newsom said that in recent times European leaders have appeared "weak and incompetent" when faced with Trump, and that, even from an American's perspective, he finds it "embarrassing."
He also mocked that "those European leaders should be given knee pads."
In the interview, Newsom said: "I can't stand this kind of accomplice behavior. People are just submitting like this. Europeans should decide for themselves what to do, but what they can't do is exactly what they're doing now. They're being played. This guy (referring to Trump) is playing them for fools—it's just too embarrassing."
Newsom also wrote on social media: "America's allies and business leaders need to understand this: There is no such thing as diplomacy with Trump. Stand tall, show some backbone."