Newsom Urges Europe to Stand Up to Trump Over Greenland

LEAD: California Governor Gavin Newsom told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday that European leaders were 'being played' by President Donald Trump and urged them to 'stop being complicit,' adding 'I should have brought kneepads for all the world leaders,' according to his remarks in Davos.

CONTEXT: Newsom's remarks come as President Donald Trump has pressed to buy or annex Greenland and has threatened to impose tariffs on European governments unless Denmark cedes the semi-autonomous territory, a dispute that has prompted confusion, anger and proposals in Europe to retaliate with tariffs, according to multiple reports and statements from European officials.

RESPONSE: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a Davos speech on Tuesday that 'Europe is fully committed' to Arctic security and praised cooperation with the United States, while French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders have warned of using the EU's 'trade bazooka' anti-coercion instrument in response, according to their public remarks and press statements.

SCALE: The dispute has drawn senior figures to Davos, prompted private meeting requests to President Trump from European leaders including former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, and raised the prospect of reciprocal tariffs and strains on security cooperation with NATO partners, according to officials and analysts following the talks.

FORWARD: President Trump is scheduled to speak in Davos on Wednesday and meet with European counterparts, Gavin Newsom is slated to give a separate address on Thursday, and European capitals are weighing possible retaliatory measures while legal experts say any U.S. attempt to seize Greenland would face 'murky' legal obstacles, according to experts and officials.