Donald Trump's return to the White House and his program under the slogan "America First" were in the air all this week in the Swiss city of Davos, even though the US president was not present in person, the American newspaper "Washington Post" commented today, BTA writes in its press review.
The numerous well-wishers of Ukraine who were present there seemed to intend to raise the idea of greater support for Kiev, which would respond to Trump's instincts and priorities, the American newspaper points out. Before his election victory, Trump expressed doubts about providing military aid to Ukraine and highlighted his good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the publication notes.
But before those gathered in Davos, during his virtual address last night, Trump signaled a change in tone, calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and putting Russia at the negotiating table, claiming that Kiev was ready for talks, writes "The Washington Post".
And in an earlier post on social networks, welcomed by observers and the political elite in Davos, he seemed to issue a threat to the Kremlin: "I will do Russia, whose economy is failing, and President Putin a very big SERVICE. Calm down now and end this ridiculous war! It will only get worse," he wrote.
Trump also called on European NATO members to increase their military spending to a significant 5% of their gross domestic product, reflecting his long-standing position, shared to some extent by Democratic rivals, that Europe should increase its defense investment, the Washington Post noted.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte agreed. "The problem is not Trump or the United States," he said in Davos. "The problem is Europe," Rutte added.
The president is proposing to lower the price of oil to put pressure on Russia over Ukraine, the Post noted in a commentary on the same topic. "Wall Street Journal".
Trump and his aides used the World Economic Forum to issue a warning to the world's elite - he intends to fulfill his "America First" campaign promises, if necessary, scorning his allies, the American newspaper said.
Under the headline "Trump told Davos: Make your products in America - or pay tariffs" the "Wall Street Journal" quoted the words from the US president's video address: "My message to every company in the world is very simple: Come make your products in America and we will give you some of the lowest tariffs anywhere on earth".
Why is this important, asks "Newsweek" magazine. Trump has threatened to use blanket tariffs to try to boost U.S. businesses. Many have suggested that this is simply to enforce his "America First" approach. in support of business, but his remarks in Davos suggest that he will likely target all U.S. businesses, including foreign companies, as part of that business environment, the magazine commented.
One of the factors highlighted by Trump as a major incentive for doing business in the U.S. is the lower corporate tax rate, which, as he told Davos forum participants, he would seek to reduce to 15%, but only "if you make your product in the U.S.," saying that this tax would be "the lowest it can get."
Trump previously proposed universal tariffs of about 20%, but he also proposed higher, selective tariffs - 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico to pressure them to take action against fentanyl and illegal immigration, as well as a 60% tariff on Chinese goods, the magazine noted. "Newsweek".
Another American magazine - "Time", which at the end of 2024 declared Donald Trump the person of the year, points out that on his third full day in the White House, addressing via videoconference to participants in the annual summit in the resort of Davos in Switzerland, Trump presented his series of presidential moves since taking the oath, stating that he has a "solid mandate" from the American people to make a change.
Trump outlined an approach to private investment in the United States, which is based on the principle of "carrot and stick", the magazine commented.
The French newspaper "Monde" announces that a new world order is coming, but to understand what it will be, the political and economic elite is eager to find out what the plans of the new occupant of the Oval Office are. The 2025 version of "Trumponomics" promises to put tariffs and the fight against immigration in the spotlight, the newspaper commented.
And nothing will please the future president more than this expectation: despite attending Davos twice during his previous term, in 2018 and 2020, Trump has never hidden his contempt for the forum, where progressive elites discuss social inequality, ocean pollution and democracy threatened by political processes, notes the newspaper "Monde".
Under the headline "People of Davos think they are more important than democracy. Trump proved them wrong" the British newspaper "Daily Telegraph" also focuses on the US president's video address to the forum participants.
If your head has stopped spinning from all the victories, you can watch Donald Trump's speech in Davos. It is a glimpse into the next four years: Trump insults and threatens foreigners while they nod furiously because he already has nuclear weapons. Yet, as we have discovered, he doesn’t really like nuclear weapons, the newspaper commented.
Davos exists to unite the world - he rhetorically dissected it, writes the "Daily Telegraph". "Auf wiederseen" of the Paris climate agreement, "Orevoir" of electric cars. America will disappear behind a wall of tariffs, the British newspaper noted. Bring your business here, he said, and you will get low taxes and regulations, wish to work elsewhere and you will pay to play the game.
Trump insists on lowering interest rates and oil prices. He has demanded that NATO countries spend 5% on defense. He seems particularly happy to remind us that he will be in charge when America hosts the 2028 Olympics and the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, the publication notes.
"We expect you next year", the participants in the discussion repeated, like unwanted relatives who announce your presence at a dinner before you knew it was taking place. According to them, the consensus in Davos is more important and irresistible than democracy itself. Trump has proven them wrong, concludes the "Daily Telegraph".
The Californian newspaper "Press Democrat" notes that Trump, who spoke with the Saudi crown prince two days ago, also announced yesterday that the kingdom wants to invest 600 billion dollars in the US, but will ask Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to increase the amount to $ 1 trillion. The statement caused laughter among the audience in the Davos hall, the newspaper commented.
Introducing Trump, the founder of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Klaus Schwab, told the new president that his return and his program were "the focus of our discussions this week". He invited Trump to speak in person at the summit next year, the "Press Democrat" said.
A panel of leading CEOs from around the world asked him questions, commented on the same topic "Business Insider". When the CEO of the company "Blackstone" Steve Schwarzman asked about Europe, Trump did not hold back and expressed his disappointment with European regulations. His remarks made many of the European leaders in the room remain stone-faced. Silence reigned in the hall. Disappointment with European regulations has been a recurring theme this year - perhaps Trump's off-the-cuff message made that even clearer, the publication commented.
The mood lightened when Trump joked that he was proposing that Canada become the 51st state of the United States, and laughter erupted throughout the room, "Business Insider" noted, quoting one participant: "He knows how to keep the audience engaged".
President Donald Trump performed his greatest hits from "Make America Great Again" to world leaders and billionaires gathered in Davos, denouncing the "nonsense" of his predecessor on diversity, equality and inclusion and gender-affirming healthcare, the American news site "Daily Beast" commented.
However, Trump's policy was received with enthusiasm by far-right leaders who attended the annual meeting in the Swiss Alpine resort, the publication notes. "What once seemed like a global hegemony of the "awake" left in politics, educational institutions, media, supranational organizations or even in forums like Davos, has begun to crumble", Argentine President Javier Milley, an ardent Trump admirer, told the meeting participants yesterday, "Daily Beast" pointed out.
Trump's appearance before the participants of the Davos summit comes against the backdrop of several political steps that have attracted the attention of the whole world, the magazine commented. "Barrons", drawing attention to the fact that although the US president was not present at the event, World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab noted that those present discussed the impact of his return to the presidency on world affairs.
Schwab said U.S. leadership is "fundamental and paramount" to address "enormous" global challenges, the magazine, a weekly publication of the "Wall Street Journal", noted.