Inside the Davos Encounter: Faisal Islam on Trump's Surprising Speech

Wed Jan 21 2026 23:50:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Faisal Islam describes the atmosphere and reactions inside the Davos conference room during Donald Trump's controversial speech, focusing on unexpected charm interlaced with controversial comments.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Faisal Islam observed a mixed reaction to President Donald Trump's speech, which began with a warm reception and transitioned to controversial remarks about Greenland. Despite high security and tension, Trump's initial charm was met with disbelief as he proposed negotiations over Greenland, eliciting varied responses from world leaders.

Faisal Islam: What it was like inside the room with Donald Trump at Davos

Faisal IslamEconomics editor

I was in the room and saw President Trump enter and it's fair to say he got a good welcome from the crowd, certainly at the beginning, with a standing ovation. However, the moment was marked by an astonishing scrum to get in, which resulted in many, including heads of state, being turned away due to intense security.

Minutes into his speech, Trump remained composed while pledging his hopes for the UK to 'do great'. What started as a day for Trump to establish his global economic stance shifted quickly towards a more personal and critical narrative. Instead of the authoritative figure some anticipated, he opted for what felt like grandfatherly advice.

This contrast in tone raised questions: What was the real Donald Trump? Did he take heed of the criticism directed at him? As I settled in, I learned of last night's incident where Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly told attendees that 'you're dead' regarding Europe's economy, igniting speculation of potential walkouts during Trump's speech.

The Speech Goes Rather Dark

Initially, it seemed as though Trump was aiming for a diplomatic appeal, aware of the backlash he'd faced for his previous remarks towards Western allies. He even hesitated to mention Greenland, a subject he had previously mentioned in a controversial context.

However, the speech soon took a contentious turn. He praised America's historical contributions to Greenland and the alliance with Denmark, only to make a disparaging remark about Europe, saying that without the US, 'everyone in the hall would be speaking German.' His bold claim for the US to negotiate the acquisition of Greenland astonished many in attendance.

Mixed Reactions in the Room

The tension in the hall escalated as Trump shifted from charm to criticism of other world leaders. His promise of no invasion of Greenland did little to quell the shocked murmurs among diplomats. Gavin Newsom, California's Governor, likened the speech to 'TACO Tuesday', a dig at Trump's tendency to backtrack under pressure.

Senator Thomas Tillis remarked that Trump's Greenland pursuits would not receive Congressional support, further complicating the president's assertions. It was evident that while Trump attempted to ease tensions, he remained undeterred in his confrontational stance.

As the speech concluded, one thing was clear: this is a narrative we will continue to discuss long after the event itself.