California Governor Gavin Newsom drew criticism this week after appearing publicly with billionaire investor Alex Soros at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The image, however, of the two of them posing together, quickly became fodder for critics.
Earlier in the week, Newsom had used his Davos platform to criticise foreign leaders for what he described as rolling over when confronted by President Trump. That message was soon overshadowed after Alexander Soros, the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros, shared a photo of the two together from the sidelines of the forum and praised the California governor in a lengthy caption.
“Great catching up with the real star of the 2026 World Economic Forum, my friend Gavin Newsom,” Soros wrote. “So glad he’s here calling out world leaders for believing appeasement works when it comes to Trump. It doesn’t. It only emboldens him to become more chaotic and destructive. World leaders could take a page out of Newsom’s book. It’s time to stand tall, stand firm, and stand united, before it’s too late.”
The post quickly spread among critics, who accused Newsom of attacking elites while appearing alongside one of the most influential billionaire donors associated with liberal causes. As per a New York Times article, George Soros donated $10 million to Gavin's 2025 election campaign.
The backlash intensified after senior figures in President Trump’s administration weighed in.
Trump administration and GOP figures respond
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent sharply criticized Newsom during a press conference Wednesday at the USA House in Davos, according to the New York Post.
“Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris,” Bessent said.
“He’s here this week with his billionaire sugar daddy, Alex Soros, and Davos is the perfect place for a man who, when everyone else was on lockdown, when he was having people arrested for going to church, he was having $1,000 a night meals at the French Laundry.”
“And I’m sure the California people won’t forget that.” Bessent’s comments followed remarks Newsom made earlier in the week, when he told a reporter that “people are rolling over” to Trump at the conference, adding that he “should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders” attending Davos.
Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also weighed in, posting an AI-generated image of the same photo Soros shared. The image depicted Newsom in a NASCAR-style racing suit covered in sponsorship logos reading “Soros” and “CCP.”
“Fixed it for you,” Cruz wrote.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers added in a statement: “Gavin Newscum auditioning to be Alex Soros’ next sugar baby is a waste of time, all the money in the world could not make Newscum’s pitiful presidential dreams come true.”
Meanwhile, Tim Miller, host of The Bulwark Podcast and an MSNBC analyst, reacted on X by writing: “Someone confiscate Alex Soros’ Instagram account.”
Newsom claims Davos speaking snub
The controversy deepened later in the week when Newsom said he was blocked from speaking at a World Economic Forum event, blaming the Trump administration for the decision.
Newsom’s office said on X that USA House, the official US pavilion at the global forum, denied him entry on Wednesday despite being invited to speak as part of an event organised by media partner Fortune.
“California was just denied at the USA House,” Newsom wrote. “Last we checked, California is part of USA.”
Responding to the claim, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the New York Post: “No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California.”
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