Newsom, on a second Europe trip this month, calls Donald Trump ‘Un-American’ at Munich conference
MUNICH, GERMANY: Californian Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized Donald Trump during remarks at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, February 14, calling him “un-American” and accusing him of undermining democratic institutions.
The California governor delivered the comments during his second trip to Europe in less than a month, addressing foreign policy and transatlantic relations before an international audience.
The White House responded with criticism of Newsom’s overseas appearance. The exchange unfolded as several prominent US political figures gathered in Munich for the annual summit.
Newsom criticizes Trump’s leadership, White House pushes back
Newsom framed his remarks around what he described as threats to democratic norms and international cooperation.
“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,” Newsom said. “Our republic is being vandalized in real time. Every day we’re fighting the fight to save our republic.”
The governor also targeted the administration’s environmental and trade policies, arguing that recent rollbacks could harm US competitiveness in emerging sectors. “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.”
He further described Trump as an “invasive species” within the Republican Party and suggested the political movement associated with him is beginning to weaken domestically. Newsom pointed to reactions from global forums, including Munich and Davos, as evidence that European leaders are pushing back on Trump’s approach.
The White House responded in a statement from spokesperson Anna Kelly, who criticized both Newsom and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, another attendee at the conference. “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,” Kelly said.
"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.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered separate remarks in Munich emphasizing cooperation with Europe while calling for a new global framework centered on border security, reindustrialization and “peace through strength.” “We in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline,” Rubio said.
Newsom says Trump’s Europe approach has strengthened continental unity
During a panel discussion, Newsom also argued that Trump’s confrontational posture toward Europe, including rhetoric about Greenland, NATO commitments and tariffs, has had the unintended consequence of drawing European nations closer together. “I believe Europe feels more united today than it has in some time,” Newsom said to loud applause. “And perhaps maybe that is the one contribution of Donald Trump."
His comments followed Rubio’s speech, which struck a more measured tone toward the transatlantic alliance and said the United States and Europe “belong together.” Newsom characterized Rubio’s remarks as reflective of Europe’s “conviction, character, purpose,” suggesting the administration is responding to unified pushback from allies.
Newsom also expressed optimism about the long-term state of US-European ties. “It’s not dead, it’s dormant,” Newsom said. “You may need to sleep with one eye open. It will take time, but it’s certainly not dead.”
