Governor Gavin Newsom is headed to Germany later this week to participate in the Munich Security Conference, continuing his efforts to leverage the global stage to promote investment in California’s climate initiatives and challenge President Trump’s isolationist policies.
At the three-day event, which focuses on the intersections of trade, economics, security, and foreign policy, Newsom will speak about trade and job creation. He aims to assure foreign leaders that “California is a stable and reliable partner,” he said Tuesday during an unrelated event. The conference is expected to draw business leaders and heads of state from around the world.
The official U.S. delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Democratic leaders Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are also anticipated to attend, according to news reports.
Last year’s conference sparked controversy when Vice President Joe Biden criticized European immigration policies and called out Europe’s reliance on the United States. Ahead of this year’s gathering, conference organizers released a report warning that the “world has entered a period of wrecking-ball politics,” marked by sweeping destruction rather than careful reforms and policy adjustments.
Newsom told reporters that he will appear on several panels, where he plans to focus partly on maintaining competitiveness with China in emerging technologies and job growth. “China is cleaning our clock as it relates to low carbon green growth. They are cleaning our clock in terms of not just electric vehicles, because it’s not about electric power, it’s about economic power,” Newsom said. “It’s about exports, manufacturing, jobs and this country is walking away. We are walking away from science and we are walking away from common sense.”
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Currently in his final year as California governor, Newsom is considering a presidential run in 2028. Last month, he attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he criticized global leaders for not confronting President Trump’s aggressive posture, including his remarks about acquiring Greenland and his tariff policies.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-02-10/gov-newsom-heads-to-munich-conference-to-challenge-trumps-vision-for-u-s