US President Donald Trump returned to the World Economic Forum in Davos after a gap of six years, using his address to global business and political leaders to project American economic strength while sharply criticising Europe’s direction on growth, migration and energy policy.
Opening his remarks in Switzerland, Trump struck a characteristically blunt tone. “It was great to be back in beautiful Davos Switzerland and to address so many respected business leaders, so many friends, a few enemies,” he said, drawing attention from a packed audience.
Here are the top quotes by Donald Trump at Davos
'You follow us down and you follow us up'
"The USA is the economic engine on the planet. And when America booms, the entire world booms. ... You all follow us down and you follow us up," Trump said.
He went on to say: "Certain places in Europe are not recognizable frankly anymore. They're not recognizable."
"I want to see Europe go good, but it's not heading in the right direction."
Donald Trump said a focus on green energy and mass migration were factors that had hurt Europe, without citing evidence.
Donald Trump on Venezuela: 'Every oil major's coming in with us'
"Venezuela is going to make more money in the next six months than they've made in the last 20 years. Every major oil company's coming in with us. It's amazing," he said, without elaborating.
Trump praised the administration run by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, saying it had been cooperating well with U.S. authorities.
"Once the attack ended, the attack ended and they said, let's make a deal. More people should do that," he said.
Trump says Greenland push is not about the need to secure sought-after rare earth elements
Donald Trump opened his remarks about Greenland with levity.
“You got to go through hundreds of feet of ice,” he said. That’s not the reason we need it.”
Instead, he said the U.S. needs it for “strategic national security and international security.”
"We need it for strategic national security and international security. This enormous unsecured island is actually part of North America. That's our territory," he said.
Trump said that no nation other than the U.S. can secure Greenland.
"I'm seeking immediate negotiations to once again to discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States."
"We never asked for anything and we never got anything," Trump said of NATO.
"We probably won't get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won't do that," he said.
"That's probably the biggest statement I made because people thought I would use force. I don't have to use force. I don't want to use force. I won't use force."
Trump referred to Greenland, the world's largest island, as "a piece of ice".
"All we're asking for is to get Greenland, including right title and ownership, because you need the ownership to defend it. You can't defend it on a lease," Trump said.
"Who the hell wants to defend a license agreement or a lease, which is a large piece of ice in the middle of the ocean, where if there is a war, much of the action will take place on that piece of ice. Think of it, those missiles will be flying right over the center of that piece of ice."
Donald Trump taunts Canada
Donald Trump said Canada gets many “freebies” from the U.S. and “should be grateful.”
He said Carney’s Davos speech showed he “wasn’t so grateful.” “Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Donald Trump on France's President Emmanuel Macron
Trump then turned his remarks to France's President Emmanuel Macron, mocking the aviator sunglasses he was wearing at Davos on Tuesday.
"I watched him yesterday with those beautiful sunglasses. What the hell happened," Trump said.
Macron's office said the choice to wear sunglasses during his speech, which took place indoors, was to protect his eyes because of a burst blood vessel.
Trump defiant about his results at the one-year mark
In the first part of his Davos speech, Trump touted America’s finances and living standards, which he said he achieved against expectations.
“Virtually all of the so-called experts predicted my plans to end this failed model would trigger a global recession and runaway inflation,” he said. “But we have proven them wrong.”
Trump said he wanted to spend the day discussing “how we have achieved this economic miracle” and suggested, as he did from the White House yesterday, that other countries in attendance could learn from his success.
Trump brags on U.S. economy
Trump touted economic growth in the U.S., using many of his characteristic superlatives that exaggerate circumstances on the ground.
“The USA is the economic engine on the planet,” Trump said. “You all follow us down, and you follow us up.”
Trump credited his tariff policies, which allies have harshly criticized ahead of his arrival at Davos. The president has also repeated his false claims that he inherited record inflation and has completely eliminated it.
His economic framing is similar to how he reviewed his first year back in power in a lengthy White House press briefing Tuesday before he traveled to Europe.
'We're going heavy into nuclear'
"We're going heavy into nuclear. I was not a big fan because I didn't like the risk, the danger, but the progress they've made with nuclear is unbelievable, and the safety progress they've made is incredible," Trump said.
"We're very much into the world of nuclear energy, and we can have it now at good prices and very, very safe."
He repeated his regular criticism of wind power.
"I want I want Europe to do great. I want UK to do great. Sitting on one of the greatest energy sources in the world, and they don't use it," he said.
Trump says he is meeting Zelenskiy
Trump also spoke about the war in Ukraine, and his efforts to mediate between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrain's Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
"I'm dealing with President Putin and he wants to make a deal, I believe. I'm dealing with President Zelensky, and I think he wants to make a deal. I'm meeting him today, and he might be in the audience right now," he said.
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