A President's Lonely Stage Moment at Davos

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an unusual scene unfolded. President Donald Trump sat alone on stage, pen in hand, while other world leaders stood and clapped. This was not the usual scene for Trump, who often thrives on such moments. But this time, it was different. His closest allies had turned their backs on him.

A Low-Energy, Confusing Speech

Trump's trip to Davos was a disaster. His speech was confusing and low-energy. He mixed up Greenland and Iceland, talked about taking over Greenland, and repeated false claims about the 2020 election. A Democratic lawmaker even said,

"It's time to take the keys away from Grandpa."

A Sudden Change of Heart

But later, Trump changed his tune about Greenland. After a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, he announced a new deal. Greenland would stay an autonomous region of Denmark. He also dropped his threat to impose tariffs on eight European allies.

European Leaders Push Back

European leaders had enough of Trump's bullying. They started speaking up.

• Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said it was "unacceptable" for Trump to try to take land from a NATO country.
• French President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to bullying and "crazy tactics."

The Ultimate Humiliation

The real humiliation came on Thursday. Not a single representative from Western Europe or North America attended Trump's "Board of Peace" signing. Instead, leaders from the United Arab Emirates, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, and Bulgaria joined him.

• Even Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to be there but couldn't because he's wanted by the International Criminal Court.

A Disappointing Turnout

In the end, fewer than 20 nations showed up. The White House had predicted 35 countries would attend. Trump sounded hoarse throughout his speech, and even his spokesperson couldn't muster her usual enthusiasm.