DAVOS, Switzerland — The World Economic Forum became an arena of diplomatic confrontation on Tuesday as international leaders delivered stark warnings against U.S. President Donald Trump’s pursuit of Greenland and escalating trade measures. The annual gathering of global elites witnessed unusually blunt language and grave concerns about the erosion of international norms.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent Democratic figure, unleashed a profanity-laden critique of global leadership, accusing world diplomats of excessive compliance with Trump’s policies. “I can’t take this complicity. People rolling over,” Newsom declared. “I hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage. At least from an American perspective, it’s embarrassing.” The governor employed visceral metaphors, comparing diplomacy with Trump to interacting with a Tyrannosaurus Rex: “You mate with him or he devours you.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the trade tensions with measured diplomacy but firm resolution. She characterized the proposed additional tariffs as “a mistake, especially between long-standing allies” and emphasized that “in politics, as in business, a deal is a deal.” Von der Leyen warned against a diplomatic “downward spiral” that would ultimately benefit adversaries of Western nations, while signaling Europe’s readiness to pursue greater independence in response to persistent international pressure.
French President Emmanuel Macron, appearing with aviator sunglasses due to an eye infection, delivered a sophisticated critique of what he termed a “new colonial approach” in international relations. The president cautioned against a emerging global framework where “international law is trampled underfoot and where the only law that seems to matter is that of the strongest.” Macron specifically condemned American trade practices that “undermine our export interests, demand maximum concessions, and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe,” particularly when combined with “an endless accumulation of new tariffs that are fundamentally unacceptable.”
The collective responses from European leadership and American state governance revealed deepening transatlantic tensions and growing resistance to Trump’s unconventional diplomatic methods. The Davos discussions highlighted a critical juncture in international relations, with traditional alliances being tested and global power dynamics undergoing significant transformation.