President Donald Trump has bragged about how much “respect” other world leaders have for him, but California governor Gavin Newsom (Democrat) on Wednesday offered up a blunt fact-check.
“I’ve had the privilege of meeting a lot of foreign leaders,” Newsom said at a Politico event in California on Wednesday. “They’re laughing behind his back.”
Newsom has been trolling Trump online for weeks by mimicking his bombastic social media style.
But his comments on Wednesday, he said, were based on “dozens and dozens” of encounters with foreign leaders and officials.
“They’re laughing behind his back,” Newsom said. “He’s being played everywhere. It’s an embarrassment.”
Gavin Newsom: “I’ve had the privilege of meeting many foreign leaders. They’re laughing behind his back. I’ve had dozens and dozens. They’re laughing behind his back. He’s being played everywhere. It’s an embarrassment.” pic.twitter.com/l9G1cBFh3w
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) August 28, 2025
Newsom’s comments call to mind footage from Trump’s first term in office that many believe show world leaders snarking behind his back at a reception in Buckingham Palace:
.@JustinTrudeau, @EmmanuelMacron, @BorisJohnson and other VIPs shared a few words at a Buckingham Palace reception Tuesday. No one mentions @realDonaldTrump by name, but they seem to be discussing his lengthy impromptu press conferences from earlier in the day. (Video: Host Pool) pic.twitter.com/dVgj48rpOP
— Power & Politics (@PnPCBC) December 3, 2019
World leaders also openly laughed at Trump at the 2018 United Nations General Assembly as the president bragged about his supposed accomplishments:
WATCH: Laughter in UN General Assembly as President Trump touts his administration's progress in past 2 years: "Didn't expect that reaction, but that's OK." pic.twitter.com/V7GViB5g4B
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 25, 2018
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