Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent slammed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California on Wednesday, describing the potential 2028 presidential candidate as “self-absorbed” and “economically illiterate.”
Newsom attacked President Donald Trump while attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, berating world leaders for their “complicity” with Trump and saying he “should have brought a bunch of knee pads” to the event. Bessent fired back when talking with reporters on Wednesday. (RELATED: Air Force One Makes U-Turn Over Atlantic, Returns To Andrews AFB)
WATCH:
.@SecScottBessent in Davos: “I think it’s very, very ironic that Newsom — who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ben — 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.” pic.twitter.com/9BmdpaebEd
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 21, 2026
Do you agree with Scott Bessent's criticism of Gavin Newsom's economic understanding?
“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,” Bessent said. “He’s here this week with his billionaire sugar daddy, Alex Soros, and Davos is a perfect place for a man who, when everyone else is on lockdown, when he was having people arrested for going to church.”
Newsom, in his comments, aimed at Nobel Peace Prize recipient María Corina Machado for presenting her prize to Trump during a White House visit. Machado had dedicated her prize to Trump when the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced her as the recipient, citing his “decisive support” for opponents of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
The board of Open Society Foundation elected Alex Soros, who describes himself as “more political” than his father, as chairman in December 2022, a position that left-wing billionaire George Soros said his younger son “earned,” according to a June 2023 report by the Wall Street Journal.
Trump spoke at the WEF on Wednesday as well, where he addressed his efforts to acquire Greenland from Denmark.
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