A lengthy and at times rambling address by the US President at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday appeared to loose the attention of many in the audience, with reports of attendees leaving mid-speech. The address, which stretched nearly an hour and a half, touched on a wide range of topics, from domestic policy to the ongoing saga of his interest in acquiring Greenland. Reactions to the speech were swift, with observers noting a visible disconnect between the President’s remarks and the engagement of the assembled global leaders and business executives.
The US President’s lengthy address at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday drew a visible reaction from the audience, with some attendees departing mid-speech.
Davos – Donald Trump has often captivated audiences with unconventional appearances during his presidency, but his remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos may have set a new precedent. The US President spoke for nearly an hour and a half, ranging across a wide array of topics. The speech, which touched on subjects from real estate values in the United States to restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee, proved challenging for many in attendance.
“After an hour, Trump began to lose the audience,” CNN reported in a live blog covering the speech in Davos. “While Trump mused about the quality of lawn care in Washington, D.C., following his deployment of the National Guard, many in the audience began checking their phones,” the network reported from the hall in Davos. Some attendees appeared so disengaged that they left the room altogether. Der Spiegel reported that after nearly an hour, one person first sought the exit, leaving observers to wonder if the individual was particularly bold or simply exhausted.
Trump Loses Audience During Davos Speech – “Do you want me to talk about Greenland?”
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Originally scheduled to conclude at 3:15 PM, President Trump appeared unconcerned with the time limit, significantly exceeding the allotted duration. The moderator of the “fireside chat” format at the World Economic Forum joked afterward that Trump had made his job remarkably easy.
Trump had spent the first half-hour praising his administration’s economic achievements and listing various successes. He also reiterated his claim of having ended eight wars. When Trump asked the audience after more than half an hour, “Do you want me to talk about Greenland?”, the response was lukewarm.
Trump Threatens NATO Over Greenland – “We Will Remember”
“I don’t have to use force, I don’t want to use force, I won’t use force,” Trump said in Davos regarding Greenland, repeatedly misidentifying it as Iceland during his speech. The US, with its “unstoppable power,” is the only nation capable of adequately protecting Greenland and needs the island for national and international security reasons, the President continued.
He called for immediate negotiations “to discuss the purchase of Greenland by the United States once again.” Denmark, Greenland’s protectorate, warned Trump that it had a choice: “You can say yes, and we will appreciate it. Or you can say no, and we will remember.”
After an Hour and a Half, Little Applause for Trump in Davos
The President later shifted back to domestic policy, attacking his usual political targets – former President Joe Biden, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, and Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar. CNN speculated that Trump may have noticed the deteriorating mood in the room, as he abruptly changed the subject and began to wrap up his remarks.
Former diplomat Hans-Dieter Heumann described the speech as “a very bad speech” on phoenix, criticizing its lack of structure. The only common thread, he said, was self-praise, adding that Trump’s concluding remarks were “almost embarrassing.”
Another political opponent – California Governor Gavin Newsom – called the US President’s speech “remarkably boring” and “remarkably insignificant” afterward. The applause for the World Economic Forum’s main guest following the nearly hour-and-a-half-long speech was surprisingly muted. (Sources: CNN, Spiegel, dpa, afp) (fdu)
