California Governor Gavin Newsom has a strong message for President Trump: Don't make a foolish move. Newsom, in an exclusive interview with POLITICO, expressed his hope that Trump will reconsider his controversial threats to seize Greenland, a Danish territory, as the global markets may just be the wake-up call he needs.
But here's the twist: Newsom believes Trump's attention will be on his teleprompter, but the real influence will come from what he sees on Fox News during his flight to Davos. And this is where it gets intriguing. Newsom hints at a potential shift in Trump's tone towards Greenland, attributing it to the recent slump in stock markets.
Newsom, with a hint of caution, said, "We can only hope he doesn't double down on his impulsive decisions. The markets are the only thing that might make him think twice." He referred to Trump's past actions, such as softening his stance on global tariffs after market reactions to his 'Liberation Day' announcement.
The governor emphasized the impact of market fluctuations on Trump's inner circle, stating, "Market movements affect everyone on his plane, from Howard Lutnick to Steve Witkoff, and even Trump's own portfolio. That's what gets his attention."
Trump's threats to seize Greenland have been escalating, causing tension in transatlantic relations. European leaders are frantically searching for a strategy to deter Trump, especially after his recent tariff announcement. Newsom, despite being a potential Democratic presidential nominee for 2028, clarified he's not in Davos to challenge Trump but to offer a different perspective.
Newsom boldly stated, "Trump is a historic president, but his unpopularity is also historic. His policies are widely rejected across the American political spectrum." He further noted that Trump's unpopularity has grown even compared to his first term.
Newsom's relationship with Trump has been tumultuous. He revealed that Trump's name-calling, referring to Newsom as 'Newscum', didn't help matters. Newsom also accused Trump of waging a war on California, citing the federalization of the National Guard and the deployment of Marines to Los Angeles as crossing the line.
The governor attributed the breakdown of their relationship to Trump's inaction on disaster aid for California's wildfires and his lack of support for Los Angeles. Newsom concluded by highlighting California's significance to Trump, mentioning quantum computing, AI, and personal connections as key factors.
