DAVOS, Switzerland — California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday called global leaders “pathetic” for failing to challenge U.S. President Donald Trump.

“I can’t take this complicity of people rolling over. I should have brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders. I mean handing out crowns, the Nobel prizes that are being given away. It’s just pathetic. And I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage,” Newsom said, speaking to reporters in Davos.

“Trump is a T-Rex. You mate with him or he devours you, one or the other, and you need to stand up to it,” he continued, telling Europeans to “stay tall and united.”

Newsom, who is one of the highest-profile Trump critics in America, confirmed last fall he is thinking about running for president in 2028. The California governor would be a leading contender to secure the Democratic nomination.

He was cajoling European leaders after Trump belligerently stepped up his threats to seize Greenland in recent days, annoucing that he will will impose 10 percent tariffs on eight countries that have opposed the sale of Greenland to the U.S. 

Heads of government in Europe are scrambling to find a response that will cool the situation — as Trump ratchets up his own belligerent rhetoric.

The U.S. president posted overnight that he’d spoken to NATO chief Mark Rutte, agreed to a meeting in Davos with key players on Greenland — then leaked a text message from French President Emmanuel Macron, shared a map of the Western Hemisphere showing Canada (and Venezuela) as American, and berated Britain for ceding a military base in the Indian Ocean.

In another message Trump shared on Truth Social, NATO boss Mark Rutte sent him a text saying, Mr. President, dear Donald – what you accomplished in Syria today is incredible. I will use my media engagements in Davos to highlight your work there, in Gaza, and in Ukraine. I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland. Can’t wait to see you. Yours, Mark.”

On Monday, Trump said that he was no longer interested “purely” in peace due to not winning the Nobel Peace Prize. The prize ended up going to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who last week gifted her medal to Trump — though the Nobel committee subsequently issued a statement that while the physical award may change hands, the actual honor itself is not transferable. 

Newsom is known for sending knee-caps for politicians who he says have bowed down to Trump, and sells them on his website.