Trump at Davos: If it weren't for the United States, everyone here would be speaking German right now
In the Davos venue, I personally witnessed the entrance of President Trump. It can be said that he immediately received a warm welcome from the audience. Everyone stood up and applauded.
Additionally, outside the venue, there was an astonishing crowd vying to get in, with many people being blocked outside, including some heads of state.
Safety measures were extremely tight, even some of the most well-known guests were turned away at the door.
Minutes into the speech, Trump remained calm, even expressing hope that the UK "would perform excellently".
Some had thought that this day would be when the U.S. president would set new global economic rules, but instead, it seemed more like a series of grandfatherly advice.
This was far removed from the threatening tone he used when he claimed on social media that "Greenland belongs to the United States".
Which one is the real Trump? Has he heard about the poor reaction his words have caused abroad?
When I entered, I heard about a shocking event that happened the night before: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of Trump said to the audience, "You're all finished with regard to the European economy."
The tone of the speech took a sharp turn
At first, I thought Trump was trying to show diplomatic gestures, perhaps due to the severe criticism he had received, and wanted to appear more moderate.
He spoke in a friendly tone about Western allies who were anxious because of his social media posts.
He even admitted that he might not have been supposed to talk about the controversial issue of Greenland - despite having repeatedly vowed to take it over.
However, as if unable to resist, the tone of the speech took a sharp turn.
He first described the help the United States had provided to Greenland, including maintaining friendly relations with Denmark.
But then, he insulted Europe's largest economy, claiming that if it weren't for the United States, "everyone here would be speaking German right now."
Later, it happened - he announced he was seeking immediate negotiations for Greenland.
He said this was a solution to be resolved through negotiation, without using force. But the United States needed "full ownership".
"We want this land," he said, "to build the greatest 'Golden Dome' in history (a multi-layered missile defense system planned by the United States)."
He also issued a warning against Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's remarks the day before, while emphasizing that the United States would also use Greenland to defend Canada.
"I just want a piece of ice... it's a very small request," he said.
It was incredible to hear him say this publicly.
Diverse Reactions at the Scene
In the Alps, in preparation for the arrival of this self-proclaimed "world cop" with his new rules, the scene was tightly secured, the situation highly tense, and the atmosphere unusually tense.
The reactions at the scene varied.
President Trump tried to showcase his personal charm, seemingly earning polite applause. However, when he shifted from talking about "rigged elections" to complaining about other leaders' speeches at Davos, some people found it hard to believe.
Although he promised not to invade Greenland, his attempt to persuade Europe to hand over the territory still shocked many.
California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump's speech a "TACO" (meaning "Trump Always Cowers Out"), a satire of the word "TACO" commonly used by Trump to mock the president.
Newsom believed that Trump had already backed down under the strong opposition of French President Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
A prominent Republican senator in the U.S., Thomas Tillis, stated that Trump's pursuit of Greenland, even if it were a negotiated annexation agreement, would not receive congressional support.
Therefore, although Trump tried to ease tensions, he still criticized allies and even made personal attacks on some leaders.
Although he promised not to invade Greenland, he still stated that Greenland would become part of the new America, and claimed that the world should thank him for that.
The speech may have ended, but we will continue to discuss it for a long time to come.
Source: BBC
Author: Faisal Islam
Original: toutiao.com/article/1855257420682250/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself