Body language analyst Judi James has weighed in on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s much-discussed appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, highlighting the sharp contrast between his presentation style and Donald Trump’s speech the day before.
Newsom took the stage early Thursday morning after a scheduled Wednesday evening appearance was abruptly canceled. According to Newsom’s office, the cancellation came after pressure was applied by individuals connected to the Trump administration, preventing him from participating in the original event.
When Newsom eventually appeared in conversation with Semafor editor-in-chief Ben Smith, the difference in tone and structure compared to Trump’s previous address was striking. Trump had delivered a 73-minute, free-flowing monologue that wandered across topics and included several factual slips, including repeatedly referring to Greenland as “Iceland.” He also invoked World War II, claiming that without U.S. involvement, Europe would “all be speaking German.”
Speaking to Daily Express US, Judi James described Newsom’s delivery as highly polished and disciplined. She said his performance reflected a textbook version of presidential body language almost to the point of feeling rehearsed or “AI-like.” In her assessment, Newsom demonstrated classic leadership signals that would fit seamlessly into a political training manual.
James contrasted this with Trump’s style, noting that Trump long ago abandoned conventional political communication norms. While his approach often defies best practices, she argued that his disregard for structure can paradoxically make him more persuasive to supporters by projecting raw charisma rather than technical precision.
According to James, Newsom employed nearly every traditional oratory technique used by seasoned political figures. She pointed out his frequent use of “lists of three,” a long-standing rhetorical device designed to build momentum and invite audience agreement. When Newsom repeated the phrase “selling out” three times with rising emphasis, James said it was a deliberate tactic to trigger applause and reinforce alignment.
She also noted his use of assertive gestures, including the “thumb of power,” where the hand forms a fist with the thumb placed on top, signaling resolve and authority. Another classic move James highlighted was the “invisible brick” gesture, where a speaker appears to hold an unseen object in front of them to visually represent the scale or weight of a problem.
Much of Newsom’s commentary centered on Trump, with the California governor remarking that he appears to “live rent-free” in Trump’s mind. Newsom framed Trump’s behavior as a break from accepted political norms, stating plainly, “This is not normal. It’s a deviation from normalcy, and we have to call it out.”
Trump, for his part, briefly mentioned Newsom during his Davos remarks, offering unexpectedly friendly comments. He said he had once gotten along well with Newsom and described him as “a good guy.”
Despite that remark, Newsom’s team maintains that political pressure led to his removal from a scheduled post-Trump event at USA House, which serves as the official U.S. pavilion in Davos. In a public statement, the governor’s office said the venue denied him entry after intervention from the White House and State Department, even though he had been invited by Fortune, the event’s official media partner.
The response from the Trump administration was blunt. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly dismissed Newsom’s presence in Davos, criticizing him personally and questioning why he was abroad rather than addressing issues in California.
Taken together, the episode highlights two radically different political styles: one grounded in discipline, structure, and traditional leadership cues, and the other defined by improvisation, provocation, and spectacle. Whether voters prefer polished precision or unfiltered performance remains an open question but the contrast at Davos could not have been clearer.
He talks pretty but his CA Gov record is horrifying and abysmal while Trumps speech delivery might be less than polished but his accomplishments and successes continue to rack up .
ReplyDeleteNewsome has the highest outward migration, massive corporate entities fleeing CA, high taxes, highest gas Nationwide, 3 refineries closed/closing, public works over runs in both cost and timeline, Palisades residents who years later still have zero houses built, CA has the highest fraud, higher debt mounting, and highest homelessness rate.
His policies have destroyed CA and run off business interest and residents fleeing to Republican states.
Meanwhile Trumps policies are securing IS sovereignty, strategically position us to win and ensure our security while delivering an expected 4.5% GDP growth in the 4th Qtr of 2025 while bringing in massive investments to the US in AI and onshoring manufacturing.
The contrast isn’t even close.
Newsom is a child trying to play with men and leaders.