MUST WATCH: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Roasts Gavin Newsom at World Economic Forum…

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent delivered a sharp rebuke to California Governor Gavin Newsom during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, highlighting the governor’s economic failures, pandemic-era hypocrisy, and misplaced priorities.

Bessent opened by skewering Newsom’s economic record, quipping, “Very, very ironic that Governor Newsom, who strikes me as Patrick Bateman meets Sparkle Beach Ken, may be the only Californian who knows less about economics than Kamala Harris.”

The Treasury Secretary wasted no time connecting Newsom’s presence in Davos with billionaire backer Alex Soros, noting the governor’s glaring hypocrisy during the pandemic.

“He’s here this week with his billionaire sugar daddy, Alex Soros,” Bessent said. “And Davos is a perfect place for a man who, when everyone else was on lockdown, when he was having people arrested for going to church, he was having $1,000-a-night meals at the French Laundry.”

Bessent’s remarks referenced Newsom’s widely criticized pandemic policies, which included strict lockdowns and enforcement against religious services, while he personally enjoyed luxury dining and elite privileges.

The Treasury Secretary framed Newsom’s attendance at Davos as emblematic of the governor’s priorities, putting global networking above the needs of Californians.

“He is here hobnobbing with the global elite while his California citizens are still homeless. Shame on him,” Bessent declared.

Bessent also criticized Newsom’s economic mismanagement, linking it to California’s ongoing dysfunction.

“He was asked to give a speech on his signature policies, but he’s not speaking because one of his economic policies brought outward migration from California, a gigantic budget deficit, the largest homeless population in America, and the poor folks in the Palisades who had their homes burned down,” Bessent said.

The Treasury Secretary did not hold back when outlining the Trump administration’s response to Newsom’s failures.

“I can tell my message to Governor Newsom is: ‘The Trump administration is coming to California.’ We are going to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse,” Bessent said, echoing President Trump’s recent Truth Social announcement that “The Fraud Investigation of California has begun.”

Bessent’s remarks came amid broader federal scrutiny of California, one of five states where $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funding has been frozen amid investigations into widespread fraud.

The Treasury Secretary tied Newsom’s incompetence to real consequences for Californians, highlighting federal efforts to investigate mismanagement and hold leaders accountable.

He also referenced high-profile indictments, including Newsom’s former chief of staff, Dana Williamson, who faces 23 counts of conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice.

According to federal reports, California accounted for $305 million of a reported $382 million in fraudulent unemployment payments since 2020.

The Trump administration has further expanded oversight with the Department of Justice’s creation of a new division to enforce fraud laws nationwide.

While the division’s initial focus is Minnesota, separate federal investigations are already underway into alleged fraud in California’s welfare, education, and unemployment programs.

Bessent did not shy away from directly questioning Newsom’s fitness to govern.

“He is too smug, too self-absorbed, and too economically illiterate to know anything,” Bessent said, leaving little doubt about the administration’s view of the governor.

The speech also highlighted the contrast between the Trump administration’s assertive leadership and Newsom’s attempts to position himself as a global moral authority.

Newsom had drawn attention the day before for criticizing world leaders for failing to oppose President Trump, claiming, “It’s time to buck up, it’s time to get serious and stop being complicit. It’s time to stand tall and firm and have a backbone … I can’t take this complicity, people rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders.”

Soros even praised Newsom on social media, calling him “the real star of the 2026 World Economic Forum,” underscoring the governor’s disconnect from the American public.

Bessent used this contrast to make a larger point about priorities, emphasizing that Californians continue to suffer under Newsom while the governor chases media attention abroad.

He framed Newsom’s Davos trip alongside Soros as an example of elite indulgence over public service.

The Treasury Secretary made clear that federal action would follow, signaling that the Trump administration is serious about restoring accountability in California.