California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom returned to the public after nearly two weeks, announcing he skipped the U.N. Climate Change conference in Glasgow to spend time with family, including trick-or-treating.

Newsom had been silent after receiving a COVID-19 booster shot on Oct. 27. The long pause led to some speculating his absence was due with complications with the vaccine.

LIVE NOW: Governor @GavinNewsom chats with @Lenny_Mendonca at the @MoveCAFWD 2021 California Economic Summit, highlighting the state’s ongoing recovery from the pandemic & work to rebuild a more equitable & sustainable economy for all.https://t.co/bdQOSsjptU

— Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) November 9, 2021

“Mom and Dad missing Halloween. For them, it’s worse than … missing Christmas,” Newsom said during an interview at the 2021 California Economic Summit.

“I woke up that next morning with something that’s probably familiar to a lot of parents, that knot in your stomach. I had no damn choice. I had to cancel that trip,” he added.

On Monday, his office released a statement to address growing speculation about Newsom’s status.

“Last week Governor Newsom worked in the Capitol with staff on urgent issues including COVID-19 vaccines for kids, boosters, ports, the forthcoming state budget and California’s continued economic recovery. He will have public events this week related to the economy and vaccines,” the governor’s press secretary Daniel Lopez said in a statement.

Newsom may have been missing, but some were not missing him. Since he recall win, he has unleashed a series of radical efforts, including required COVID-19 vaccinations for ages 12 and up in public schools.