California Gov. Gavin Newsom lashed out at Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week after Bessent delivered a sharp and highly personal critique of the Democratic governor during remarks at the World Economic Forum, comparing Newsom to fictional characters Patrick Bateman from American Psycho and a Ken doll.
Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, Newsom complained that Bessent wasted time on the global stage by taking aim at him rather than focusing on economic issues. Newsom mocked the tone of Bessent’s comments, suggesting they sounded more like a personal grievance than serious policy discussion.
“The Treasury secretary talked about a Barbie doll,” Newsom said. “It was as if he was reading a diary, and had just broken up with someone.” He added that Bessent was using “valuable time” at an international forum to single out a governor instead of addressing substantive matters.
Bessent’s remarks came a day earlier, when he offered a blunt assessment of Newsom while speaking at the same forum. In comments that quickly circulated online, Bessent likened the California governor to a mix of pop culture figures and questioned his grasp of economics.
“Gov. 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, drawing laughter and attention with the comparison.
The exchange reflects Newsom’s increasingly aggressive posture during President Donald Trump’s second term, as the California governor has emerged as one of the Democratic Party’s most vocal and visible critics of the administration. Newsom’s press office has even adopted a style modeled after Trump’s social media presence, frequently using all-capital letters and sharp, mocking language to attack the president.
At Davos, Newsom spent a significant portion of Wednesday targeting Trump directly. He dismissed the president’s address to the World Economic Forum as “remarkably boring” and “insignificant,” continuing a pattern of public criticism aimed at elevating his national profile.
Newsom is widely viewed as a potential presidential contender in 2028, and his highly visible presence at Davos appeared designed to position him as a leading Democratic counterweight to Trump on the world stage. His willingness to engage in personal back-and-forths with administration officials, including Bessent, underscores that approach.
The California governor’s moves in Switzerland come as Democrats point to what they see as encouraging political momentum, including favorable polling and recent electoral wins. Party leaders have been highlighting those developments as signs they could regain control of Congress and the White House in the coming years.
Bessent’s comments, however, highlighted a sharp contrast between the administration and its critics. While Newsom accused the Treasury secretary of indulging in theatrics, Bessent framed his remarks as a critique of Newsom’s leadership and economic understanding, using biting humor to make his point.
The clash added to the broader atmosphere of tension and political theater surrounding Davos, where world leaders, cabinet officials, and would-be presidential contenders shared the same stage. For Newsom, the exchange reinforced his role as a leading Democratic antagonist to the Trump administration. For the administration, Bessent’s comments signaled a willingness to respond in kind when critics step onto the global spotlight.
As both sides traded barbs, the episode underscored how domestic political rivalries are increasingly spilling onto international forums, with Davos serving as another battleground in America’s ongoing political divide.
