California Governor Gavin Newsom's international travel earlier this year, including trips to Davos, Munich, and London, cost approximately $57,000 and was financed by the California State Protocol Foundation, a nonprofit that covers the governor's expenses. The foundation relies on contributions from wealthy donors and special interests, some of whom have business before the state.
The overseas journeys, which involved appearances at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the Munich Security Conference in Germany, and a climate summit in London, were undertaken to raise Newsom's global profile and engage with international elites. According to records obtained by The Post, Newsom spent over $26,500 on flights to and from Davos, nearly $6,600 on hotels, and $600 on meals during his January trip to the World Economic Forum.
Subsequent travel to Munich and London incurred costs of just over $20,000 for flights, $2,809 for hotels, and $750 for food. The governor's office declined to release security costs and itemized receipts for these trips.
Behested Payments and Donor Influence
The funding for these trips has drawn criticism, particularly concerning Newsom's use of behested payments. This practice allows elected officials to act as intermediaries for contributions from wealthy donors and special interests, including those with business pending before the state. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton called the practice "the total corruption of our system of government in California."
One of the Protocol Foundation's significant recent donors is Zoox, Amazon's robotaxi company, which contributed $75,000 on February 24. Zoox is seeking state approval to expand its autonomous vehicle operations and eventually charge for rides in California, a process that involves regulatory review by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Zoox has donated a total of $155,000 to the foundation since July 2024. A source indicated that Newsom and Zoox CEO Aicha Evans recently shared a meal in San Francisco, though details were not provided by either the governor's office or Zoox.
CPUC spokesperson Terrie Prosper confirmed that Zoox holds pilot authorizations for drivered and driverless services but has not yet applied for a driverless deployment permit.
Records indicate that the Protocol Foundation has often faced low funds at the start of recent years. Its most recent IRS filing showed just $7,790 in net assets at the end of 2024, necessitating replenished coffers through new donations. Other notable donors to the foundation include philanthropist Susie Tompkins Buell, who gave $100,000, crypto billionaire Chris Larsen with a $10,000 contribution, and the New Venture Fund, a dark money group that has donated $150,000 since October.
International Engagements and Political Aspirations
Newsom's European excursions were also seen as efforts to bolster his international profile, amid speculation about a potential presidential run in 2028. During his trip to Davos, he delivered speeches warning about the potential return of former President Trump to the White House. Newsom also traveled to the Munich Security Conference and London, where he signed a non-binding climate cooperation memorandum with the United Kingdom.
This practice of accepting donations from entities with interests before the state has been a subject of scrutiny, with Newsom's political action committees also having reportedly accepted funds from wealthy donors shortly before the governor made political appointments to individuals connected to those donors. Hilton has stated that ending behested payments is a central part of his campaign to reform government practices in California.