Democrats With 2028 Ambitions Use Munich Conference to Build Foreign Policy Profiles

Several possible presidential contenders positioned their party as a reliable alternative to Trump on the international stage.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (L) and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz meet at the 2026 Munich Security Conference to discuss California's and Germany's strategic partnership. Courtesy of Gov. Newsom's Press Office

Several Democrats with possible 2028 presidential ambitions used this past week’s Munich Security Conference to build foreign policy credentials and counter President Donald Trump and his administration’s approach to U.S. alliances, with some of them presenting concrete policy proposals.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), and former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo were among the Democratic officials attending the Feb. 13–15 conference in Munich.