Donald Trump’s appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday was meant to be a sweeping statement of American priorities.
Instead, it unfolded as a rambling, often puzzling address that bounced from global security to energy policy, from pharmaceutical prices to birth rates — sometimes without clear transitions.
The US President touched on familiar themes: NATO, immigration in Europe, inflation, Venezuelan oil, and his long-standing interest in acquiring Greenland.
But it was the off-the-cuff asides and factual slips that drew the most attention inside the packed hall.
NATO Talk Takes an Unexpected Detour to “Iceland”
While discussing America’s role within NATO, Trump appeared to mix up Greenland and Iceland, leaving some delegates visibly confused.
“They’re not there for us on Iceland that I can tell you,” he said, referring to NATO partners.
He then added that European leaders had been supportive — at least until he raised the issue of Iceland in recent days.
The comments quickly circulated among diplomats, with several unsure whether the President was joking or had simply misspoken.
Windmills, China, and a Claim About Falling Birth Rates
Trump then pivoted sharply into an attack on renewable energy and environmental policies, singling out wind power as an economic and social threat.
Only “stupid people,” he said, bought windmills from China.
According to Trump, green policies had reduced electricity output while driving up costs in certain countries.
He went further, claiming the knock-on effects included weaker economies, declining living standards, shrinking militaries — and even lower birth rates.
The assertion drew raised eyebrows from the audience, as Trump offered no evidence to support the claim.
Sunglasses, Drug Prices, and a Macron Mockery
France’s President Emmanuel Macron also found himself in Trump’s firing line.
Trump mocked Macron’s aviator sunglasses, worn during his own Davos speech a day earlier, before accusing him of posturing during negotiations over pharmaceutical pricing.
“I watched him yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses,” Trump said. “What the hell happened?”
Trump claimed he had pressed Macron to raise drug prices in France to better match US rates, accusing Paris of benefiting unfairly from American consumers for decades.
Zelensky Mention Sparks Confusion in the Room
In another surprising moment, Trump suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be attending the Davos event — despite Zelensky’s office confirming he was in Kyiv at the time.
“He might be in the audience right now,” Trump told listeners, prompting murmurs across the room.
Trump later said the war between Russia and Ukraine was “reasonably close” to ending, accusing both sides of pulling back from a potential agreement and warning they would be “stupid” not to reach a deal.
A Swiss Call That Didn’t Quite Add Up
Trump also recounted what he described as a tense phone call with Switzerland’s leader over trade tariffs.
He referred to the Swiss official as a woman and described her as the country’s prime minister — despite Switzerland having a male president and no prime minister.
According to Trump, he proposed a 30 per cent tariff after claiming Switzerland earned $41 billion from the US without facing trade barriers.
He said the call left him irritated, describing the official as “very repetitive” and dismissive of America’s concerns.
“Abba-baijan” and a Nod to Xi Jinping
As the speech continued, Trump mispronounced Azerbaijan while discussing his role in easing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia, referring to the country as “Abba-baijan.”
He also shared a personal anecdote involving Chinese President Xi Jinping, revealing that Xi had asked him to stop using the phrase “China virus” to describe Covid-19.
Trump said he agreed to the request, praising Xi as “an incredible man” whose leadership was “highly respected by everybody,” before noting that their relationship had been damaged by the pandemic.
Greenland, World War II, and a Warning to Europe
Trump returned repeatedly to Greenland, arguing it was essential to US national security.
He claimed America had effectively “won” the Second World War and questioned why the US had returned Greenland afterward.
“How stupid were we to do that?” he asked, before accusing Greenland of ingratitude.
At one point, he warned that without US protection, Europe would be speaking German “and a little Japanese,” a remark that drew an uneasy reaction from parts of the audience.
Force Ruled Out — But the Pressure Remains
Despite his hardline rhetoric, Trump insisted he would not use military force to obtain Greenland, even as he suggested the US could do so if it chose.
“We would be, frankly, unstoppable,” he said, before quickly adding, “But I won’t do that.”
Instead, he framed the issue as a choice for Greenland and its allies: agree to US demands and earn Washington’s appreciation — or refuse and face long memories.
What’s Next?
Trump’s Davos appearance left allies and analysts parsing what was policy, what was provocation, and what was simply performance.
With tensions already simmering between the US and Europe, the fallout from his remarks — especially on Greenland, NATO, and Ukraine — may become clearer in the days ahead.
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