The Japan Times - Trump takes Davos on wild ride

The US president had just given a speech in which he suddenly ruled out the use of force to take over Greenland, a crisis that had the global elite fearing he would upend the world order.

Trump was then taken to a room to meet his host, Swiss President Guy Parmelin, who had the anxious look of many other world leaders trying to butter up the mercurial American.

"Davos without you is not truly Davos," the Swiss head of state told his US counterpart.

"I agree," replied Trump.

Trump, it was clear, had come to the Swiss ski resort to assert not only American power over the rest of the world, but also his own.

Returning after six years and a stunning political comeback, the US president appeared determined to turn the showcase event -- official theme "The Spirit of Dialogue" -- into the Trump show.

From his speech asserting the greatness of his own presidency to his launch of his new "Board of Peace" surrounded by world leaders, there was no question who was meant to be the star.

Yet the 79-year-old Trump's performance also left many delegates guessing about what he was really up to.

- TACO Trump? -

Trump had headed into Davos late, after Air Force One broke down -- an inauspicious start to his trip. He flew in amid deep disquiet among US allies over his threats to take Greenland from NATO ally Denmark.

During his speech he launched into an apparently uncompromising restatement of his claims over the "big piece of ice."

But then Trump suddenly announced that "I won't use force". The former reality TV star knew it would make headlines, adding "that's probably the biggest statement I made, because people thought I would use force."

Hours later there came another shock

Trump announced on his Truth Social network that he had agreed a "future deal" on the Danish territory and was lifting the threat of sanctions on eight European countries.

"He's taken the off ramp," one stunned Davos delegate said.

From Trump's critics on both sides the critique was even stronger.

"TACO," said California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of another TACO ("Trump Always Chickens Out") moment akin to his earlier relaxation of some "Liberation Day" tariffs last April.

- 'This is exciting' -

Or was it simply the "art of the deal," as espoused in Trump's co-written 1987 book describing his technique of making outrageous demands to extract unexpected concessions in business.

None of his fellow leaders at Davos could be sure, and that may have been the point.

But US allies will still have concerns about what to expect next from an unprecedented disruptor of the post-World War II order -- and one who rarely forgets a grudge.

"You can say yes, and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no and we will remember," Trump said about Greenland, in comments the New York Times's conservative commentator Bret Stephens said "could have been written by Mario Puzo", the writer of mafia classic "The Godfather".

Trump's signing ceremony on Thursday for the "Board of Peace" conflict resolution body -- of which he is the chairman, reportedly in perpetuity -- similarly underscored the issues.

"Well, this is exciting," he said, although key allies including France and Britain had snubbed the launch of what they view as a challenge to the United Nations.

Its membership so far comprises of the Trump-friendly leaders of Argentina and Hungary, several Gulf monarchies -- and a number of countries under US visa restrictions.

But while the world ponders what Trump's Davos appearance portends, he was turning his attention back to home -- and himself -- just minutes after his plane took off from Zurich.

"Fake and Fraudulent Polling should be, virtually, a criminal offense," Trump said in a series of social media posts announcing he would sue the The New York Times for publishing an opinion poll that found steadily sliding support.

K.Yamaguchi--JT