California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued a warning to European leaders on Tuesday: Stop playing by a set of rules while President Donald Trump acts like a wrecking ball to the world.
While speaking to reporters in Davos, Switzerland, ahead of the World Economic Forum, Newsom said that top European officials had been played by Trump.
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“The Europeans should decide for themselves what to do, but one thing they can’t do is what they’ve been doing,” Newsom said, per an X video shared by DW News reporter Michaela Kuefner. “And they’ve been played. He’s been playing folks for fools, and it’s embarrassing.”
Last week, Trump threatened to punish countries that don’t support his effort to take control of Greenland with additional tariffs. And he has refused to rule out the possibility of taking the island by force.
EU leaders have pushed back on Trump’s quest to seize Greenland, citing concerns that the annexation of the semi-autonomous Danish territory would dismantle the NATO alliance.
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One reporter said that Europeans view the way they’ve been dealing with Trump as “diplomacy.”
“This is diplomacy with Donald Trump?” Newsom asked. “He’s a T-Rex. You mate with him, or he devours you. One or the other.”
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Newsom went on to rebuke EU leaders for still playing by a set of rules when Trump isn’t doing so.
“I can’t take this complicity. People rolling over. I should’ve brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders,” Newsom said.
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When asked what he thinks the president’s goal is, Newsom explained that the goal was whatever Trump wants it to be.
“The goal is the world in his image. He’s a narcissist,” Newsom said.
