When Donald Trump arrived at the famous Alpine resort, two hours late due to a small malfunction on Air Force One, the presidential plane, “The Economist,” the most important economics magazine in the US, had just published the support level for Donald Trump, now at only 37%.
The American president lost 19% in the first year of his second term, which began with an approval rating of 56%.
Donald Trump had a lower support, only 34%, immediately after the January 6, 2021 insurrection, the attack on the Capitol, had already lost the election to Joe Biden and was preparing to leave the White House in scandal.
The collapse of Donald Trump's popularity, which is just three points away from the lowest and most disreputable moment of his presidency, indicates a strong decline in the American administration that fails to address internal issues, masking this incompetence through false and contradictory international business themes.
President's speech at Davos shows that he used Greenland as a distraction from the ICE scandal, the shooting of a woman by a police officer on immigration, which sparked widespread outrage in the US.
A boring speech
In the question-and-answer session that followed the expected statement by the American president, he clearly stated that “we will not use force for Greenland”.
“It was an extremely boring speech. It was insignificant. He had no intention of invading Greenland. It was never a real threat,” stated Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, a member of the Democratic Party, present at Davos.
Newsom is the most influential critic of Donald Trump on social media, developing an ironic approach to the American president.
Until yesterday, Trump's statements repeatedly indicated the exact opposite, claiming that he did not rule out using military force to occupy Denmark's territory, a NATO member.
Trump's policy increasingly resembles a television entertainment show. It starts with a bombastic, incredible, and worrying statement. For example: “I will make Canada the 51st American state!”. Then, the statement is followed by a barrage of messages on social media that spread worldwide. The targets, in the case of Canadians, begin to react, from the general public to the level of the prime minister. After a few days, Trump comes back with a threat, saying that if they do not agree to be conquered, he will impose 100% tariffs on Canadian products.
And reactions, revolt. Everyone remembers what happened. The Liberal Party, led at that time by Justin Trudeau, a prime minister who had already announced he would not run again, was rated as having the second chance in the parliamentary elections, behind the Conservatives, who were previously admirers of Trump.
Canadians revolted following the verbal aggressions of the American president, the tariff increases, which were 25%, and the Liberals won the elections. Mike Carney, an unassuming financier, became prime minister, handling Trump with ease.
The first military sent to Greenland were from Europe
The same modus operandi is observed in the case of Ukraine, within the NATO dossier, Iran, and others. Hence the nickname TACO, meaning Trump Always Chicken Out. In free translation - Trump always runs away like a coward.
“Ukraine must be our number one priority. Then we can discuss all other issues, including Greenland. But Ukraine must come first because it is crucial to our security,” stated Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General, at the Davos Forum.
The American president lives in a continuous show, desperately trying to be the center of attention.
The only person and the only important country towards which he has never shown hostility, neither in the first term nor now, is Vladimir Putin and Russia.
No one disputes that the US has strategic and economic priorities, and Greenland is an interesting territory for America, but there is a long way from here to the chaos he triggered.
And what did he achieve? Even a novice diplomat could tell him that, at this moment, the current American administration is further away from Greenland than ever before.
Trump's stance of force and hostility towards Denmark, Europe in general, has generated a coordinated reaction, support, and the first to send military personnel to Greenland were those from the old continent. The American president did not hide his anger when he learned that Germany had sent a number of 15 army employees to the vast Arctic island.
Europe develops immunity against America
Trump's effect on Europe was contrary to what the American president intended. It provoked solidarity, increased defense budgets, less dependence on the US in the military field, assumed support for Ukraine, rapid legislative changes to reduce bureaucracy, investment in technology, and others.
Can Europe defend itself without American help? My answer is categorically yes. If we look at Europe's defense capability in general, in a country like Finland, how do we do this? We have compulsory military service. One million people have already followed it. We can mobilize 280,000 soldiers in a few weeks. We have 62 F-18 aircraft. We just bought 64 F-35 aircraft. We have the largest artillery in Europe, along with Poland. We have long-range land, sea, and air missiles.
Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, statement at the Davos Forum, Switzerland
Politically, the United Kingdom has approached the European Union again, developing efficient political strategies together to counter both Trump and Putin.
It is a challenging period, with a future that is hard to predict, and a great volatility of political power, but a correct interpretation of data and events indicates a weakened Donald Trump and a realignment of power relations between Republicans and Democrats, with the clarification that the American conservative movement has become extremely divided due to the chaotic behavior of the president.
Donald Trump will continue to try to provoke crises, both in the US and internationally, hoping not to lose his influence and somehow avoid a bitter defeat in the midterm elections in November, but he will be less and less convincing.