After much speculation and uproar, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has finally spoken about a decision to cancel his trip to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Scotland.
The answer came on Tuesday during a fireside chat at the California Economic Summit – a conversation with his former Chief Economic and Business Adviser Lenny Mendonca.
The mysterious last-minute trip cancellation – quietly chalked up to "family obligations" by a spokesperson – came around the same time the governor had received his COVID-19 booster shot in Alameda County last month, sparking unsubstantiated online gossip about his whereabouts.
Appearing perfectly healthy, though adding he still had a sore arm from his flu shot, Newsom explained why he pulled out of the Glasgow summit: "We've got a five-year-old, the oldest is 12…four young kids and I'm defending myself," he said. "My wife was going to go as well. Mom and dad missing Halloween, for them (it was) worse than missing Christmas."
The governor explained that the next day he woke up and "had no damn choice" but to cancel the trip. The family dressed up as pirates, then he took his kids to work at the State Capitol building where he focused on addressing a possible COVID-19 winter surge and the upcoming budget, he added.
"Catching up after a pretty intense period of time with the family, myself, my team…it's been probably the most productive week I've had since I've been governor," Newsom told Mendonca on Tuesday.
The uncharacteristic silence from the governor drew much criticism over a perceived lack of transparency, leading First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom to strongly respond in a now-deleted tweet. The governor and his wife were also spotted alongside some of San Francisco's elite at a swanky weekend wedding officiated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
He'll have another public event in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
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