MUNICH, GERMANY — California Governor Gavin Newsom told an audience at the Munich Security Conference on Friday that Donald Trump is a “temporary” figure, even as European leaders expressed deep skepticism that the transatlantic alliance damaged during the Trump presidency can be fully repaired.
Newsom’s comments, delivered during a session focused on climate policy, underscored a broader effort by Democrats to position themselves as a counterweight to Trump ahead of the 2028 presidential election. The Governor also plans to formalize a new partnership with Ukraine on Saturday, signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at bolstering economic recovery and resilience, according to his office.
Though, Newsom acknowledged the depth of the damage already done. “They see us as a wrecking ball,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the conference, referring to European leaders. “They see us as unreliable, and a lot of them think it’s irrevocable. They don’t think we’ll ever come back to our original form.”
The sentiment was echoed by Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a potential presidential hopeful, who said, “What I’m hearing now is, even if we are able to repair these relationships, it’s going to take generations before they experience comfortable.”
The conference also highlighted divisions within the Democratic party itself. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, making her debut on the international stage, stumbled during a discussion on Taiwan, failing to articulate a clear position on whether the United States would defend the self-governing island against a Chinese invasion. The incident led her team to curtail her public schedule.
A series of awkward moments further underscored the challenges facing Democrats. Several senators found themselves attempting to smooth over remarks made by Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch Trump ally, regarding Greenland, suggesting Trump had not abandoned his interest in acquiring the Danish territory. The planned US congressional delegation was also abruptly canceled by Republican Speaker Mike Johnson.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio received a standing ovation for a more conciliatory speech than that delivered by Vice President JD Vance at the same conference last year. Rubio then traveled onward to Slovakia and Hungary, countries led by leaders sympathetic to Trump, signaling a willingness to engage with a broader range of international actors.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz set a somber tone, stating, “A divide has opened up between Europe and the United States,” and adding, “The United States’ claim to leadership has been challenged, and possibly lost.” He revealed that he had held “confidential talks” with France regarding European nuclear deterrence, a stunning admission of diminished trust in US security guarantees.
The atmosphere in Munich contrasted sharply with the days of Senator John McCain, a central figure in making the conference a key forum for international leadership. Whereas a dinner was still held in his honor, few members of Congress attended a reception hosted by the German chancellor.
Senator Chris Coons of Delaware attempted to maintain the spirit of McCain’s gatherings, but the absence of McCain himself and the diminished US congressional presence underscored a shift in the dynamics of the conference. Graham, meanwhile, urged Trump to take action against Iran, warning that inaction would undermine American credibility.
Several other Democratic officials in attendance – including former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Senators Chris Murphy, Elissa Slotkin, and Ruben Gallego – are also considered potential presidential contenders. Newsom, however, physically towered over the field, drawing attention to his presence.
Newsom invoked former President Bill Clinton, stating, “I’m saying what works in the United States is strength begets strength,” and adding, “Given the choice, the American people will always support strong and wrong versus weak, and right. And I think there’s a lesson to that.”
Representative Jason Crow of Colorado, who traveled to Munich independently after the congressional delegation was canceled, attempted to reassure European leaders that Democrats are poised to regain power in Washington. He also joined Ocasio-Cortez in arguing that the post-World War II international order has failed to deliver for working-class communities.
Chancellor Merz concluded his remarks with a stark assessment: “The international order based on rights and rules is in the process of being destroyed,” leaving the future of transatlantic relations uncertain.
