DeMaio: ‘Gavin Newsom clearly has a China problem, we believe he is the true Manchurian candidate’
By Megan Barth
January 22, 2026
In a scathing video commentary released by, California State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego), Chairman of Reform California, accused Governor Gavin Newsom of committing treason during his recent trip to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.
“Gavin Newsom just flew to Switzerland to hang out with billionaires at the World Economic Forum, but he committed an act of TREASON in the process! And he’s getting a pass from the liberal media — WATCH!”
DeMaio’s remarks stem from Newsom’s recent appearance at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, where the governor reportedly urged international leaders to actively oppose or “fight” certain United States policies advanced by the Trump administration.
DeMaio described the actions as a direct betrayal of American sovereignty, especially given Newsom’s role as a sitting governor, as a state governor has no constitutional authority to conduct foreign policy or encourage foreign interference against the federal government.
In the clip, DeMaio emphasized, “This is outright treasonous conduct. He goes to a group of foreign leaders instead of working with our country… That’s not how the process works. That is treasonous…He wants to stand with people opposing the U.S.”
DeMaio further connected Newsom’s actions to a broader pattern of troubling ties between California Democrats and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He has repeatedly criticized Newsom for what he describes as cozy relationships and investments that benefit CCP-linked entities at the expense of American interests. “He is serving the interests of foreign governments, specifically the Chinese government,” DeMaio contends.
In the video, DeMaio spotlighted Newsom’s 2023 trip to China, funded by California taxpayers, where the governor met with CCP officials, praised aspects of their system, and ignored human rights abuses—actions DeMaio called a “campaign photo op” and part of a “disturbing pattern of corruption.” DeMaio labeled Newsom the CCP’s “errand boy” in discussions of alleged Chinese election interference efforts targeting 2024 and beyond.
These concerns extend to state-level decisions under Newsom’s administration.
Citing investigative reports, DeMaio has called for federal investigations into California public pension investments, including those in Chinese venture capital firms and funds tied to CCP-influenced entities, citing risks from the party’s “military-civil fusion” strategy that blurs lines between private business and state control. He has also raised alarms over former CalPERS officials with undisclosed ties to China’s Thousand Talents Program—a CCP-linked recruitment effort—and questioned why state funds continue flowing to entities closely cooperating with the Communist Party.
DeMaio also points out that Newsom veto’s a bill prohibiting China from buying large swaths of land in California and his $1.4 billion, no-bid contract to a Chinese company to produce and provide masks during the pandemic. “Gavin Newsom clearly has a China problem,” DeMaio charges, adding, “We believe he is the true Manchurian candidate.”
The accusation of treason comes amid escalating tensions between California and the Trump administration, with AG Rob Bonta filing dozens of lawsuits against the administration and the state defying the U.S. Department of Justice request for voter roll information.
Reform California, the grassroots organization led by DeMaio, has repeatedly targeted Newsom over issues including fiscal mismanagement, election integrity concerns, and what they describe as unconstitutional overreach.
DeMaio’s video aligns with his ongoing DOGE California initiative (inspired by federal efforts to expose waste), which has spotlighted alleged fraud, slush funds, and wasteful spending under Newsom’s watch.
We reported that Newsom’s Davos trip—undertaken while California grapples with massive budget deficits and increasing homelessness, crime, and taxes—demonstrates misplaced priorities.
The governor’s defenders have characterized his Davos engagement as standard diplomatic and economic advocacy on issues like climate change and trade, not an attack on the United States.
Whether this escalates into formal complaints or investigations remains to be seen, but it underscores the deepening divide in California’s political landscape as the 2026 midterm cycle approaches, the Supreme court asking AG Bonta to respond to the CAGOP-led Prop 50 appeal, and Newsom signals a 2028 presidential campaign.
Megan Barth is the Executive Editor of The California Globe and former, founding editor of the Nevada Globe. Specializing in investigative reporting, her work has appeared in national and local news. The highlights of her career include interviewing President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and FBI Director Kash Patel. When she isn’t editing, writing, or talking, you can find her hiking and relaxing in Northern Nevada.
Originally published by California Globe
