Patriot Brief
- What Happened: California Gov. Gavin Newsom joked at the World Economic Forum that he should have brought knee pads for world leaders.
- Why It Matters: The remark plays into criticism that Newsom panders to global elites while California struggles with crime, homelessness, and economic decline.
- Bottom Line: Americans want leadership that stands tall for the country, not jokes that signal submission on the world stage.
California Governor Gavin Newsom managed to embarrass himself and the country at the same time during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
While rubbing elbows with global elites in Davos, Newsom joked that he should have brought knee pads with him. He even referenced the fact that he sells “Newsom Kneepads” on his own campaign merchandise store, turning the moment into a self aware gag about groveling.
“It’s time to get serious and stop being complicit,” Newsom said, before adding that he should have brought knee pads for world leaders.
Americans watching at home were left wondering, “Serious about what, exactly?” California is drowning in homelessness. Crime continues to surge. Families are fleeing the state. Businesses are packing up and leaving. Yet Newsom found time to crack salacious jokes about world leaders.
This is the same governor who lectures Americans about morality, freedom, and climate policy while presiding over one of the most mismanaged states in the country. Instead of pushing back on globalist nonsense, he leaned into it with a joke that perfectly summed up how many voters already see him.
Davos is not a comedy club. It is a gathering of elites who believe they know better than sovereign nations and everyday citizens. When an American governor stands there joking about knee pads, it does not come off as clever.
Leadership means standing up for your people, not pandering to foreign bureaucrats and billionaires who will never live under the policies they promote. Americans do not need governors auditioning for global approval.
They need leaders who stand tall, speak plainly, and put America first. Newsom did the opposite. And the world noticed.