Faisal Islam<\/span>Economics editor<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n I’m in the room, and have just seen President Trump enter and it’s fair to say he got a good welcome from the crowd, certainly at the beginning. A standing ovation.<\/p>\n On top of that, there was an astonishing scrum to try to get in, with many turned away – even heads of state.<\/p>\n And the security was unbelievable, not letting even some of the most famous attendees in or out of the hall.<\/p>\n But, minutes into the speech, Trump was keeping his cool – even dropping in phrases about wanting the UK “to do great”.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n What some thought would be the day on which the US president laid down the laws of his new global economy was filled more with grandfatherly advice.<\/p>\n It was far from the mildly menacing tone of his social media posts claiming that Greenland will be America’s.<\/p>\n But which one is the real Donald Trump? Has he heard how badly some of his rhetoric has gone down?<\/p>\n As I entered, I was told of an astonishing event last night where Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told the audience that, in terms of Europe’s economy, “you’re dead”.<\/p>\n There was a walkout. Might there have been one today? He seemed to be trying to avoid that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n At first, I thought Trump was trying on a diplomatic front, perhaps having heard some of the significant criticism levelled against him and trying to sound mellow.<\/p>\n He talked in friendly terms about the western allies that had been most perturbed by his social media posts.<\/p>\n He even acknowledged that he probably shouldn’t speak about the controversial issue of Greenland – which he has repeatedly vowed to take over.<\/p>\n But, almost as though he could not help it, the speech seemed to take a dark turn.<\/p>\n First he described America’s role helping Greenland in the past, including being friendly to Denmark.<\/p>\n But he then insulted Europe’s biggest economy, saying everyone in the hall “would be speaking German” if it wasn’t for the US. And then it came.<\/p>\n He announced he was seeking immediate negotiations for the USA to acquire Greenland.<\/p>\n A negotiated settlement he said. No force required. But the US needed “full title”.<\/p>\n “We want this land” to build the “greatest Golden Dome ever built” he said.<\/p>\n And he warned Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about his words a day earlier, though stressing that he would also use Greenland to defend Canada.<\/p>\n “I’m asking for a piece of ice.. it’s a very small ask.”<\/p>\n It was incredible to see this said out loud.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n There was high security, high stakes and high tension in the Alps for the arrival of the would-be sheriff of the world, brandishing his new rules.<\/p>\n The reaction in the room ranged.<\/p>\n The president’s attempts at charm seemed to win him polite applause. But as he went from rigged elections to his annoyance at other leaders’ Davos speeches, some sat in disbelief.<\/p>\n Even though he promised not to invade Greenland, many were stunned by his attempts to persuade Europe to hand over the territory.<\/p>\n Gavin Newsom, the Democrat Governor of California said the speech was TACO Tuesday, a reference to the “Trump always chickens out” catchphrase used to mock the president.<\/p>\n He argued Trump had backed down after robust pushback from President Macron and Mark Carney<\/p>\n A key Republican senator, Thomas Tillis, said the president’s pursuit of Greenland, even a negotiated annexation, would not have the backing of Congress.<\/p>\n So while Trump attempted to dial down tensions, he still criticised allies – including personal attacks on leaders.<\/p>\n And while he promised not to invade Greenland, he still said it will be part of the new America – and that the world should thank him for it.<\/p>\n The speech may have eventually come to an end, but we will be talking about it for a long time to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/static.files.bbci.co.uk\/bbcdotcom\/web\/20260113-125315-2e65791d43-web-2.37.1-4\/grey-placeholder.png\")
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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nThe Speech goes rather dark<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Mixed reactions in the room<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n