US President Donald Trump delivered a speech in Davos on Thursday, returning to the stage of the World Economic Forum amid heightened international attention.
The US president addressed the forum at a time of strained relations between Europe and the United States, following recent remarks about Greenland that have prompted concern among allies.
Trump opened by promising the US “growth like no other country has ever seen before”, adding: “We are the hottest country in the world.”
“People are doing very well. They are very happy with me,” he said.
He said it was good to be back in Davos with “so many friends and so few enemies”, drawing laughter from the audience.
Trump said that “inflation has been defeated” and claimed that America’s former “open and dangerous borders” have been closed.
Europe going 'in the wrong direction'
“Europe is not heading in the right direction,” the US president said.
He argued that some parts of Europe are “unrecognisable”, saying that friends who travel there return saying: “I don’t recognise it.” Trump added that while he wants Europe to succeed, he believes it is moving in the wrong direction.
“You follow us. When we rise, you rise. When we fall, you fall,” he said.
He also criticised Western governments for policies he said had undermined economic strength.
“The result has been record budget and trade deficits and a growing public deficit, caused by the largest wave of mass migration in the history of humanity,” he said, adding: “We have never seen anything like it.”
Trump told the forum that “many parts of the world are being destroyed before our very eyes”.
“Leaders do not understand what is happening, and those who do understand are not doing anything about it,” he said.
Trump predicts recovery for Venezuela
Trump referred to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro by his administration and predicted a rapid economic recovery for Venezuela as a result of US involvement.
“Venezuela will make in six months the kind of money it hasn’t made in 20 years,” he said, describing the country as an “exceptional nation” that has suffered due to poor policies.
He said Venezuela’s new leadership is working with the United States and seeking an agreement.
Criticism of wind energy
Trump also criticised wind energy, saying China manufactures most wind turbines.
“I don’t see wind farms in China,” he said. “China is very smart. They build them and sell them for a fortune.”
He argued that wind turbines are unprofitable and inefficient, claiming that countries with more wind energy infrastructure perform worse economically.
Greenland and NATO
Turning to Greenland, Trump said he had not planned to raise the issue but asked the audience whether they wanted him to comment on it.
He said he respects the people of Greenland and Denmark, but argued that the United States is the only country capable of defending the island.
He referred to Denmark’s brief resistance during the Second World War and said the US had defended Greenland at that time.
“Without us, people would be speaking German and a little Japanese,” he said.
Trump said Greenland’s strategic location makes it critical for US, Western and global security, citing growing risks related to weapons and nuclear threats.
“We want it for strategic and national security reasons,” he said. “The Western Hemisphere is our domain.”
He said Greenland should have remained under US control after the Second World War.
Trump also said that NATO allies are obliged to be able to defend their own territory and argued that no country other than the US can guarantee Greenland’s security.
He described Greenland as largely uninhabited and said it has been vulnerable to Russia and China.
He added that the US is not seeking Greenland for its natural resources but for security reasons, criticising Denmark for insufficient defence spending.
Trump said he has done more than any other US president to sustain NATO and insisted that his position on Greenland is intended to strengthen the alliance rather than undermine it.
Trump returns to Davos
Trump returned to the World Economic Forum for the first time in six years, leading the largest US delegation ever to attend the forum. He was accompanied by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and around 20 senior officials.
International negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also present.
The US delegation arrived later than scheduled after Trump was forced to delay his arrival due to a technical issue with Air Force One.
According to BBC analysis, Trump arrived in Davos determined to pursue his objectives. Asked during a White House press conference how far he was prepared to go to acquire Greenland, he replied: “You’ll find out.”
Despite ongoing discussions at the forum, Trump’s position on Greenland appears unchanged, the BBC reported.