The White House fired back at Gavin Newsom on Saturday after the California governor called President Trump “un-American” during an appearance in Munich — his second European sojourn in less than a month.
Newsom and New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined a handful of Democrats with presidential ambitions who have been using the Munich Security Conference as a pedestal to bash Trump on the world stage.
Gov. Gavin Newsom met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for talks at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. Bundesregierung via Getty Images“Gavin Newscum and AOC should be fixing California and New York’s many problems, but instead, they are frolicking in Europe, where no one knows or cares who they are,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Post.
“Thankfully, Americans will always have strong leadership in President Trump, who is working day in and day out to defeat inflation, secure our border, deport migrant criminals, and restore peace through strength.”
Newsom called President Donald Trump “un-American” during remarks he gave at the conference on Saturday. STAN GILLILAND/EPA/Shutterstock
On Saturday, Newsom took part in a discussion on transatlantic cooperation and quickly started taking shots at Trump, part of his ongoing efforts to criticize the commander-in-chief in front of global leaders.
“I hope you understand that Donald Trump is not only temporary, but he may be among the most un-American presidents ever to have resided at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I really believe that. And I don’t say that lightly,” the governor said, adding he was in Munich “to fill the void Donald Trump has left on the world stage.”
“Our republic is being vandalized in real time. Every day we’re fighting the fight to save our republic,” he told the audience.
A day earlier, Newsom took aim at Trump and his administration’s approach to climate change, stating that the White House is rolling back policies that would make the United States more competitive with China in the green economy and electric vehicle sectors.
Gavin Newsom speaking at an event, wearing a blue suit and white shirt with a dark tie, holding a microphone. Youtube/Munich Security Conference“Donald Trump just said pollute the hell out of the United States,” Newsom said. “That’s called deficit spending — pollution is an act of theft in the health of a nation and cleanup costs.”
The governor’s comments on Saturday veered toward a larger criticism of Trump and the MAGA movement, saying “it is already fraying in the United States.”
Echoing earlier remarks, Newsom called Trump an “invasive species” in the Republican Party and noted that Democrats and European leaders are waking up to his tactics.
“I’ve seen it reflected in Davos, and I see it reflected here Munich in a very positive and powerful way,” Newsom said. “He exploits weakness, that’s his strength. But he responds very differently to conviction, character, purpose, where people are expressing themselves firmly and formally.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also delivered remarks Saturday, calling Europe a friend of the US while also noting the need for a new global paradigm that respects borders, re-industrialization and “peace through strength.”
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“We in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline,” Rubio said.
Newsom noted the “tone and tenor of Rubio’s speech” reflected how European leaders have pushed back on Trump regarding Greenland and other global issues.
“I believe Europe feels more united today than it has in some time,” Newsom said.
