President Donald Trump sharply criticized California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday, condemning the Democrat’s newly signed clean energy agreement with the United Kingdom and cautioning British leaders against aligning themselves with him.
The remarks came just hours after Newsom signed a memorandum of understanding in London with British Energy Secretary Ed Miliband. The agreement commits California and the UK to cooperate on clean energy technologies, including offshore wind development. It also seeks to expand access for UK-based firms such as Octopus Energy to California’s market and strengthen research collaboration between institutions across the Atlantic.
In comments to Politico, Trump dismissed the agreement and questioned the wisdom of Britain engaging with Newsom at all.
“The UK’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum,” Trump said.
The president did not hold back in his assessment of California’s leadership under Newsom. “Gavin is a loser. Everything he’s touched turns to garbage. His state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster,” Trump said. He added that it was “inappropriate” for Newsom to strike such agreements and “inappropriate for them to be dealing with him.”
Trump also warned that Britain should take a hard look at California’s trajectory before deepening ties. “People are leaving [California],” he said. “The worst thing that the UK can do is get involved in Gavin. If they did to the U.K. what he did to California, this will not be a very successful venture.”
Newsom, who is widely viewed as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, is currently touring Europe. The trip is reportedly aimed in part at reassuring foreign allies who may feel unsettled by shifts in U.S. foreign policy and climate priorities under Trump.
The memorandum signed in London outlines plans for cooperation in advancing clean energy technologies, particularly offshore wind. It is designed to bolster transatlantic ties in the energy sector and create expanded opportunities for UK companies seeking entry into California’s market.
The move comes amid broader policy differences between Washington and Sacramento on climate issues. Earlier this year, the Trump administration withdrew the United States from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In contrast, California and the United Kingdom have pledged to continue pursuing net-zero emissions targets within the framework of that international agreement.
Trump’s criticism underscores the growing divide between federal and state approaches to climate and energy policy. While the administration has taken steps to scale back U.S. involvement in certain international climate commitments, Newsom has positioned California as a global partner in advancing clean energy initiatives.
For Trump, however, the issue is not simply environmental policy but leadership and governance. By calling the agreement “inappropriate,” the president signaled his belief that state-level deals of this kind risk undermining federal authority and projecting a conflicting message abroad.
As Newsom continues his European tour and speculation swirls about his national ambitions, the clash highlights the broader political and policy battle lines shaping the debate over America’s energy future — both at home and on the world stage.
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