Huge lines, laughs and gasps as Trump addresses Davos
Trump stuns Davos with jabs at Greenland, Nato, Canada’s Carney, and France’s Macron, as attendees liken the chaotic scene to a rock concert
It looked like a rock concert: hundreds of the world’s rich and powerful stood in a massive line for a precious seat to hear US President Donald Trump deliver his speech in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.
After a two-hour wait, the doors to the World Economic Forum’s congress hall closed to the disappointment of many who had to scramble for spots in four overflow rooms to watch him on television screens.
The exclusive crowd included executives of top companies, academics and politicians – even the president of Latvia, Edgars Rinkevics, was stuck in line at one point before an aide guided him elsewhere.
“It’s like a rock festival,” one attendee said. Another watched Trump’s helicopter landing in the mountain retreat on her phone.
Some voiced concern about the escalating tensions between Trump and Europe over this bid to seize Greenland, an issue that has overshadowed the annual schmoozefest’s agenda.
“I expect the worst. From what we know from Trump, he always needs to have all the attention and he needs to have a shocker message,” said Julia Binder, of IMD Business School.