Staff Reports
Gavin Newsom recently ventured to Davos, and folks, it didn’t exactly go as planned. For those not in the loop, Davos is where the world’s big wigs gather to sip fancy drinks and whisper sweet nothings about global economics. But it’s not really the place you’d expect to find California’s governor sidelined like the last kid picked for dodgeball. Yet there he was, awkwardly situated in what some are humorously calling the “cuck chair”—an unfortunate term used to describe sideliner scenarios with a touch of humiliation.
Prepare to smirk at the irony: Newsom paraded into Davos presumably auditioning for a leading role in the White House drama that’s bound to unfold soon, but instead found himself behind heavy hitters like Susie Wilde and Marco Rubio. It’s a bit like bringing your flashiest outfit to prom, only to be mistaken as part of the catering crew. The governor might have thought he was taking his presidential campaign on a global trip, but what he ended up doing was inadvertently offering a comedic performance.
He did not leave without making waves, though. In a typical Gavin Newsom fashion, he rallied against the very country he aims to lead. Talk about airing dirty laundry abroad! When President Trump attended such events, he put America first, playing up the role of the strong, confident leader. Newsom, on the other hand, seemed more interested in giving a master-class on self-sabotage and how not to make friends on your debut.
Despite the fanfare he seems to generate on social media, Newsom’s real-life antics sometimes resemble an awkward sitcom. Imagine walking the social media red carpet only to fall over your own misguided narrative. This was the man who brought knee pads to Davos, a ‘harmless’ prop, suggesting he came prepared for a different type of engagement. This error was not only unsophisticated but turned into a homophobic slight—a move that would have had media outlets in hysterics had it been pulled by a Republican. It’s political theater, but without the applause.
To top it off, one can’t help but feel a little secondhand embarrassment when Newsom decided to tweet about being left out of a party. And not just any tweet—he marked it as “breaking news.” While Californians are facing homelessness and other crises, their leader was busy with social media dramatics far away from home, in snowy Switzerland. Perhaps he should channel his energy into rebuilding California’s infrastructure, akin to how the French masterfully rebuilt Notre Dame, rather than jet-setting across the globe.
In the end, perhaps Newsom should have rehearsed sticking to California’s never-ending budget issues before trying to tackle global stardom. Instead, he somehow managed to transform a serious forum into a setting for his transatlantic faux pas, becoming the punchline to an international joke. Maybe it’s time for a new approach, Gavin—one that doesn’t include props or the “cuck chair.”
