DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) 鈥� There were grave warnings from European leaders and expletives from California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday as leaders at the World Economic Forum grappled with the and heightened concerns over global trade.
The gathering in Davos, Switzerland, comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to push for the seizure of Greenland and the imposition of .
French President Emmanuel Macron, wearing aviator sunglasses because of an , warned of a 鈥渘ew colonial approach鈥� that would undermine decades of collaboration.
Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister and former central banker, urged countries below the top tier of global power to continue multilateral cooperation with a new, 鈥渄ense web of connections.鈥�
And in the forum鈥檚 entrance hall, Newsom was the most blunt, telling European leaders: 鈥淚t鈥檚 time to get serious and stop being complicit. It鈥檚 time to stand tall and firm 鈥� have a backbone.鈥�
Here鈥檚 a look at what attendees said:
Gavin Newsom
鈥淚 can鈥檛 take this complicity. People rolling over. I should鈥檝e brought a bunch of knee pads for all the world leaders,鈥� the California governor and prominent Democrat said. 鈥淚 hope people understand how pathetic they look on the world stage. I mean, at least from an American perspective, it鈥檚 embarrassing.鈥�
He added: 鈥淒iplomacy with Donald Trump? He鈥檚 a T-Rex. You mate with him or he devours you. One or the other … Wake up! Where the hell has everybody been? Stop with this (expletive) diplomacy of sort of niceties and somehow we鈥檙e all going to figure it out, saying one thing privately and another publicly. Have some spine, some goddamn (expletive).鈥�
Emmanuel Macron
Before expressing his concern, the French president began his address with a joke: 鈥淚t’s a time of peace, stability and predictability.鈥�
Warning major powers against the temptation of modern colonial adventures, he added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a shift towards a world without rules. Where international law is trampled underfoot and where the only law that seems to matter is that of the strongest, and imperial ambitions are resurfacing.鈥�
Then he took aim at the Trump administration, denouncing 鈥渃ompetition from the United States of America, through trade agreements that undermine our export interests, demand maximum concessions, and openly aim to weaken and subordinate Europe, combined with an endless accumulation of new tariffs that are fundamentally unacceptable, even more so when they are used as leverage against territorial sovereignty.鈥�
Mark Carney
鈥淕reat powers can afford for now to go it alone. They have the market size, the military capacity, and the leverage to dictate terms. Middle powers do not,鈥� the Canadian prime minister said.
鈥淚n a world of great power rivalry, the countries in between have a choice: compete with each other for favor or to combine to create a third path with impact,鈥� he said. 鈥�(We) argue the middle powers must act together because if we鈥檙e not at the table, we鈥檙e on the menu.鈥�
Carney strongly opposed U.S. aspirations to expand its Arctic territory. 鈥淲e stand firmly with Greenland and Denmark and fully support their unique right to determine Greenland鈥檚 future.鈥�
Scott Bessent
With President Trump not due to address the elite global gathering until Wednesday, it fell to his treasury secretary to take up his defense in Switzerland.
鈥淚 think our relations have never been closer,鈥� Scott Bessent said, playing down the rift among Western countries over Greenland. 鈥滳alm down the hysteria. Take a deep breath.”
He added: 鈥淲e are in the middle of President Trump鈥檚 policies. And of course, Europe is an ally, the U.S.-NATO membership is unquestioned. We are partners in trying to stop this tragic war between Russia and Ukraine, but that does not mean that we cannot have disagreements on the future of Greenland.鈥�
Bart De Wever
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said that with Trump鈥檚 Greenland provocations, 鈥渟o many red lines have been crossed鈥� in Europe.
鈥淏eing a happy vassal is one thing. Being a miserable slave is something else. If you back down now you鈥檙e going to lose your dignity,鈥� he said during a Davos panel discussion on redefining Europe鈥檚 place in the world.
De Wever said that he and Belgium鈥檚 King Philippe will meet with Trump on Wednesday when they will plan to press for a return to the old military alliance between Brussels and Washington.
鈥淲e either stand together or we will stand divided, and if we are divided, there is the end of an era, of 80 years of Atlanticism, really drawing to a close,鈥� he said.
The former mayor of Antwerp, quoting the Italian philosopher Antonio Gramsci, said that in a time of great transformation that it is up to U.S. president if the alliance holds. 鈥淚t鈥檚 up to him (Trump) to decide if he wants to be a monster – yes or no.鈥�
Ursula von der Leyen
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a diplomatic 鈥渄ownward spiral鈥� in the West would only embolden its adversaries.
鈥淭he proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies. The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July. And in politics, as in business, a deal is a deal,鈥� the EU鈥檚 top official said.
The Commission president said Europe was obliged to respond to international pressure.
鈥淢y point is: if this change is permanent, then Europe must change permanently too. It is time to seize this opportunity and build a new independent Europe,鈥� von der Leyen said. 鈥淲e consider the people of the United States not just our allies, but our friends. And plunging us into a downward spiral would only aid the very adversaries we are both so committed to keeping out of the strategic landscape.鈥�
Donald Tusk
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, writing on X, called on Europeans to beware of 鈥渁ppeasement.”
“Appeasement is always a sign of weakness. Europe cannot afford to be weak 鈥� neither against its enemies, nor ally. Appeasement means no results, only humiliation. European assertiveness and self-confidence have become the need of the moment.”
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