At COP30, California’s Newsom Blasts Trump’s “Dumb” Climate Policy, Vows State Will Lead on Green Future

California Governor Gavin Newsom took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s climate agenda during a fiery appearance at the COP30 summit in Brazil, calling the administration’s decision to reverse course on climate action “dumb” and dangerous to both democracy and economic competitiveness.

Speaking at multiple events in the Amazonian city of Belem, Newsom vowed that California would continue to “lean in” on clean energy innovation despite federal inaction. “The United States of America is as dumb as we want to be on this topic, but the state of California is not,” he declared, warning that Republican climate rollbacks were handing global clean-tech dominance to China.

Newsom, widely seen as a likely Democratic presidential contender in 2028, was met with cheers as he toured the summit under UN police escort. He brushed off questions about his political ambitions, saying his focus was on safeguarding democracy and winning back the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms. “I don’t worry about 2028. I worry about fair and free elections,” he said.

Highlighting California’s climate record, Newsom pointed to the state’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2045 and banning new gasoline car sales by 2035. He contrasted this with Trump’s push to expand fossil fuel production, including a pending order to open drilling off California’s coast - which he called “dead on arrival.”

The governor urged leaders to frame climate change in relatable economic terms, noting that “climate change seems abstract” to many Americans. California, he added, has already shown that green technology drives jobs, boasting seven times more renewable energy positions than fossil fuel ones.

At an earlier investor event in Sao Paulo, Newsom called the lack of U.S. federal leadership on climate “jaw-dropping,” pledging that California would work with international partners “with an open hand, not a closed fist.”

Taking one last swipe at Trump, Newsom said the president’s term - ending in January 2029 - couldn’t come soon enough. “He’s the most unpopular president in U.S. history,” Newsom told reporters. “Trump is temporary. He’s reckless. He’s chaotic. People need to stand up to a bully.”

Governor-level advocacy against federal rollback keeps the state-versus-federal split highly visible, and that shapes how corporates think about California-linked compliance and disclosure well beyond the state's borders. Our market-intelligence and ESG-strategy teams help US clients navigate federal-state divergence and build robust multi-scenario planning.