If you’re wondering what happens when a California politician takes his show on the road, look no further than Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent climate change pity party in Brazil. While regular Americans are busy scraping together money for gas and groceries, California’s slick-haired governor jetted off to São Paulo to bash the United States and praise—wait for it—China.
At the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, Newsom didn’t waste time pretending to represent all Americans. Instead, he did what Democrats seem to love: trash the country that made him rich and powerful, all while cozying up to the people who actually lead the world in pollution. You can’t make this stuff up.
Standing on stage at the Milken Institute’s Global Investors’ Symposium, the governor turned on the waterworks. “I apologize for being so partisan here,” Newsom said—right before launching into a full-blown political hit job on President Trump’s administration for not sending a representative to the conference. “I literally came out here. I’m just stunned. I got four kids. The hell is going on in my country now? Not one person from the [Trump] administration showed…”
Now let’s pause. A guy who runs a state with rolling blackouts, homeless encampments that make Los Angeles and San Francisco look like third-world refugee camps, and crime so bad that stores are locking up toothpaste is confused about “what’s going on” in America? Gavin, buddy, what’s going on is that the adults are finally back in charge, and that includes saying no to the liberal scientist led “problem” of global warming, that even climate freak Bill Gates admitted he inflated the effects of for decades.
But Newsom didn’t stop at trashing the Trump administration for not agreeing with his ridiculous emissions standard. Newsom also praised China of all places for what they were doing. In his speech he claimed the ruling party, the Chinese Communist Party, was making “unprecedented progress” on climate issues. That’s rich coming from a country that builds a new coal plant every week and has no problem polluting the world’s skies as long as it helps their bottom line. But don’t expect Newsom to mention that. He’s too busy trying to look “presidential” while downplaying his own state’s failures.
Let’s be honest. This appearance at a global warming conference wasn’t about climate policy. It was about Gavin Newsom auditioning for the role of Future Democratic Savior. Kamala Harris is less popular than a root canal, Nancy Pelosi is retiring, Chuck Schumer needs to retire, Bernie Sanders is too old and the Democrats are shopping for their next leading man. Newsom thinks a few speeches in foreign countries and a couple of high-fives from global elites will do the trick.
But here’s the problem: Americans are watching. They see the hypocrisy, especially Californians. Who are stuck either paying $6.00 in gas or buyuing an electric vehicle and having their local leaders admit the state’s current electrical grid can’t support charging their cars in addition to powering their homes. While Newsom lectures about carbon footprints, he’s flying private jets and living in multiple mansions. While he praises China, he ignores the fact that they’re not held to the same standards as we are. And while he cries about the Trump administration not attending COP30, President Trump is focused on rebuilding the economy, securing the border, and putting American workers first.
Gavin Newsom may wow the Davos crowd and impress the UN bureaucrats, but back home, people are tired of the show. They want leaders who fight for their jobs, their families, and their freedoms—not politicians who apologize for America on foreign soil.
So go ahead, Governor. Keep chasing that global spotlight. But don’t be surprised when Americans choose leadership over lip service. Because while you’re sipping caipirinhas in Brazil and gushing over China, real Americans are busy cleaning up the mess your and your party left behind.