Introduction to the Speech
The US President, Donald Trump, delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which was marked by a rambling and often incoherent tone. The speech, which lasted for over an hour, covered a wide range of topics, including tariffs, immigration, sunglasses, and pirates. Trump also revisited some of his favorite talking points, such as complaining about the chairman of the US central bank and declaring that climate change is a hoax.
The Windmill ‘Scam’
Trump has long been a climate skeptic, and during the speech, he once again singled out windmills as something only "stupid people" buy. He claimed that windmills are a "scam" and that they destroy the land. However, his claims are not supported by facts. China, for example, has many wind farms and is the world’s largest producer of wind energy. In fact, 16% of electric generation in China came from wind in 2024, according to the Energy Information Administration.
Emmanuel Macron’s Sunglasses
Trump also took some time to mock the French President, Emmanuel Macron, for wearing aviator sunglasses during his speech at Davos. Macron had been wearing sunglasses due to a burst blood vessel in his eye. Trump claimed that he forced Macron to raise drug prices and mimicked his accent. He also claimed that he told Macron to increase the price of a pill from $10 to $20 or $30, and that Macron initially refused.
Switzerland and Rolexes
The President also singled out Switzerland, the conference host, for disparaging remarks. He claimed that Switzerland only prospered because of the US and that the country made $41 billion from selling watches to the US without paying tariffs. However, the President of the Swiss Federation, Guy Parmelin, met with Trump and corrected him, pointing out that there was actually a trade surplus between the two countries.
Trump’s Tirade Against Somalis and ‘Pirates’
Trump also lashed out at Somali-Americans in the Democrat US state of Minnesota, before pivoting to speaking about Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa. He claimed that Somali "bandits" had stolen $19 billion in fraud, but this claim is not supported by facts. The fraud investigations in Minnesota are still ongoing, and the amount of money involved is significantly lower than what Trump claimed.
An Irrelevant House Prices Tangent
Towards the end of the speech, Trump’s comments became increasingly irrelevant and rambling. He talked about rising house prices, which he blamed on the previous president, Joe Biden. He also proposed capping credit card interest rates at 10% for one year to help Americans save for a home.
Conclusion
Trump’s speech at the World Economic Forum was marked by a rambling and often incoherent tone, with the President covering a wide range of topics without much depth or clarity. His claims were often factually incorrect, and his tone was frequently mocking and disparaging. The speech was widely panned by commentators, with many describing it as "remarkably boring" and "signifying absolutely nothing." Overall, the speech did little to inspire confidence in Trump’s leadership or his ability to engage with the global community on important issues.
