California Governor Gavin Newsom has ignited a political firestorm this week following his public appearance with billionaire investor Alex Soros at the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The seemingly innocuous photo of the two posing together quickly became a focal point for critics, who accused Newsom of hypocrisy amid his own sharp rhetoric against global elites.
Controversial Photo and Praise from Soros
Earlier in the week, Governor Newsom used his platform at Davos to deliver a pointed critique of foreign leaders, accusing them of what he described as "rolling over" when confronted by former President Donald Trump. This message, however, was soon overshadowed when Alexander Soros, the son of renowned billionaire philanthropist George Soros, shared a photograph of himself with Newsom from the sidelines of the forum.
In a lengthy social media caption accompanying the image, Alex Soros lavished praise on the California governor, writing: "Great catching up with the real star of the 2026 World Economic Forum, my friend Gavin Newsom. So glad he's here calling out world leaders for believing appeasement works when it comes to Trump. It doesn't. It only emboldens him to become more chaotic and destructive. World leaders could take a page out of Newsom's book. It's time to stand tall, stand firm, and stand united, before it's too late."
Immediate Backlash and Accusations of Hypocrisy
The post rapidly circulated among conservative critics and political observers, who seized upon the apparent contradiction. Critics argued that Newsom was attacking elite figures while simultaneously appearing alongside one of the most influential billionaire donors associated with liberal causes worldwide. This criticism gained additional weight following reports that George Soros had contributed $10 million to Newsom's 2025 election campaign, as documented by The New York Times.
The backlash intensified significantly when senior figures from former President Trump's administration began weighing in publicly, turning what might have been a minor controversy into a major political story.
Trump Administration and GOP Figures Respond Forcefully
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered particularly sharp criticism during a press conference at the USA House in Davos, as reported by the New York Post. Bessent stated: "Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris. He's here this week with his billionaire sugar daddy, Alex Soros, and Davos is the perfect place for a man who, when everyone else was on lockdown, when he was having people arrested for going to church, he was having $1,000 a night meals at the French Laundry. And I'm sure the California people won't forget that."
Bessent's comments directly responded to remarks Newsom had made earlier in the week, where the governor told reporters that "people are rolling over" to Trump at the conference and sarcastically suggested he "should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders" attending Davos.
Additional Republican Criticism and Social Media Reactions
Senator Ted Cruz, the Republican from Texas, joined the fray by posting an AI-generated version of the same photograph Soros had shared. The altered image depicted Newsom wearing a NASCAR-style racing suit covered with sponsorship logos reading "Soros" and "CCP," accompanied by the caption "Fixed it for you."
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers added fuel to the fire with an official statement: "Gavin Newscum auditioning to be Alex Soros' next sugar baby is a waste of time, all the money in the world could not make Newscum's pitiful presidential dreams come true."
Meanwhile, Tim Miller, host of The Bulwark Podcast and an MSNBC analyst, reacted on social media platform X by writing: "Someone confiscate Alex Soros' Instagram account."
Newsom Claims Speaking Snub at Davos Event
The controversy deepened further later in the week when Governor Newsom alleged he had been blocked from speaking at a World Economic Forum event, blaming the Trump administration for this decision. Newsom's office announced on X that the USA House, which serves as the official United States pavilion at the global forum, had denied him entry on Wednesday despite an invitation to speak at an event organized by media partner Fortune.
Newsom himself posted: "California was just denied at the USA House. Last we checked, California is part of USA."
Responding to these claims, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told the New York Post: "No one in Davos knows who third-rate governor Newscum is or why he is frolicking around Switzerland instead of fixing the many problems he created in California."
The series of events has created a complex political narrative surrounding Newsom's international presence, highlighting tensions between his criticism of global leadership approaches toward Donald Trump and his associations with influential billionaire figures. The controversy continues to unfold as political observers analyze the implications for Newsom's national profile and future political ambitions.
