Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom traveled to Munich, Germany, to attend the Munich Security Conference in the latest stop in a string of high-profile international appearances that come as California struggles with deepening crises at home.
As he seeks to boost his public profile on the global stage, Newsom appeared on a climate panel and met with Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen.
Back in his state, roughly 116,000 residents remain homeless, communities continue recovering from devastating wildfires, drug overdoses persist at alarming levels, and a proposed billionaires’ tax threatens to accelerate the flight of wealth out of California.
The Munich visit marks Newsom’s second international trip in as many months.
He attended the World Economic Forum in Davos in January and previously traveled to Brazil to announce a climate partnership.
His office says the governor has “stepped up as the leading U.S. presence on the global stage.”
For a sitting governor, the message is unmistakable as the political road to 2028 runs through Europe.
International Messaging Mirrors a Presidential Campaign
During a climate panel in Munich, Newsom told attendees that President Donald Trump was “temporary,” adding:
“He’ll be gone in three years.”
Delivered on foreign soil, the remark sounded less like diplomacy and more like a campaign-style message aimed at an international audience.
Political observers noted the strategy openly.
One political science professor told the San Francisco Chronicle that this type of global engagement is standard for governors preparing presidential runs.
Newsom was not alone.
Other Democrats widely viewed as potential 2028 contenders, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, were also scheduled to attend the conference, underscoring how international forums are increasingly serving as early proving grounds for national ambitions.
Ahead of the trip, Newsom framed his travel as a counterweight to Washington:
“While Donald Trump continues to demonstrate that he is unstable and unreliable, California is leaning in on the partnerships that make California stronger, Americans safer, and our planet healthier.”
The framing positions Newsom not merely as a governor, but as a national-level political figure preparing for a broader stage.
Davos Appearance Previewed the Strategy
Newsom’s Munich stop follows a contentious appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where he claimed he had been denied access to U.S. headquarters at the event.
He responded on social media:
“How weak and pathetic do you have to be to be this scared of a fireside chat?”
The White House issued a sharp rebuttal, portraying the episode as political theater rather than statesmanship.
Newsom, meanwhile, defended the trip by emphasizing California’s economic size:
“Fourth largest economy in the world, so we can punch above our weight…
“We need a little moral authority in our body politic in the United States of America today.”
Mounting Problems Inside California
While Newsom expands his global profile, California’s internal challenges remain severe:
• Tens of thousands remain homeless statewide
• Wildfire recovery has faced criticism and delays
• Drug overdose deaths continue to strain communities
• A proposed 5% tax on billionaire net worth is already prompting high-profile departures
Tech leaders, including Sergey Brin, Larry Page, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks, have taken steps to relocate outside California, raising concerns about capital flight and long-term economic stability.
The proposed tax targets net worth rather than income, a distinction economists say could significantly accelerate the relocation of wealthy residents and investment capital.
Presidential Ambitions vs. State Governance
Newsom’s recent travel schedule, Brazil, Davos, Munich, resembles the itinerary of a national candidate more than that of a governor managing ongoing domestic crises.
He is delivering campaign-style rhetoric abroad, building relationships with foreign leaders, and positioning himself as a global Democrat figurehead, all while California confronts unresolved challenges affecting millions of residents.
The contrast is increasingly difficult to ignore:
International visibility is rising just as confidence in state leadership faces renewed scrutiny.
California’s wildfires, homelessness crisis, and economic uncertainty will remain long after the conference speeches end, leaving voters to decide whether Newsom’s focus lies primarily in Sacramento or on the 2028 presidential stage.
If Newsom can’t tackle problems in his own state, how can he expect to lead the country?
READ MORE – Trump Humiliates Gavin Newsom in Front of World Leaders at WEF
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