Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed California Gov. Gavin Newsom over his political stunt and commentary at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (Theresa Münch/picture alliance via Getty Images)
"This is diplomacy with Donald Trump. He's a T.rex. You mate with him, or he devours you, one or the other," Newsom said Tuesday. "The Europeans could be (devoured) if they continue down this path and process. They need to stand tall, stand firm, stand united."
Bessent shot back Thursday that the comparison was nonsensical while saying the governor has a "brain the size of a walnut."
"Being on the national stage is very different than being governor of California with no signature achievements, but to say strange things, like President Trump is a Tyrannosaurus rex. What the hell does that mean?" the Treasury secretary said. "I could say, Gavin Newsom is a brontosaurus with a brain the size of a walnut."
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Newsom did in fact bring kneepads to the forum as part of a political stunt, calling them "Trump signature series kneepads" during a speech in Davos, Switzerland.
Amid his meetings in Davos, Newsom was photographed with left-wing billionaire Alex Soros, the son of billionaire philanthropist George Soros.
President Donald Trump, center, holds up a signed Board of Peace charter during the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2026. (Evan Vucci / AP Photo)
Trump was asked about Newsom's presence in Davos Tuesday during a press briefing, remarking that the pair had a warm relationship before it fell to political tatters.
"I had a very good relationship with Gavin Newsom when we were, you know, in office together," Trump told the media, referring to his first term in the Oval Office. "I was president. He was the governor of California. We had a really … he would talk about it often. And, somewhere, we just went astray. I just, I just hate the way California is being run.
California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is a longtime political opponent of Trump's, and issued a warning to foreign leaders to grow a "backbone" with Trump in a political broadside against the White House from the forum Monday. (Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"We actually have people leaving. It's never happened before, but I hate the way it's being run. He and I had a very good relationship. Really, close to the word exceptional, but now we seem not to."
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Fox Digital reached out to Newsom's office on Friday morning regarding Bessent's latest comments but did not immediately receive a reply.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/bessent-unloads-nesoms-bizarre-davos-stunt-calls-out-kneepads-moment