Nervous rex: the Davos elite brace for Trump and his dinosaur diplomacy

The Guardian - World News DiplomaticNews ReportEN 3 min read 100% complete by Heather Stewart and John CollingridgeJanuary 20, 2026 at 07:52 PM

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The World Economic Forum annual meetings in Davos, Switzerland, began with a focus on US President Donald Trump's upcoming speech. California Governor Gavin Newsom advised handling Trump as "a T rex" that must be either appeased or devoured. European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Emmanuel Macron, expressed concerns about Trump's comments on annexing Greenland, which they described as threatening and potentially punitive. The European Commission president called for a new form of European independence, while the French premier warned of risks of "new imperialism" and "autocracy against democracy". Macron also suggested that Europe might use its anti-coercion instrument to impose sweeping sanctions and tariffs if Trump's threat is not withdrawn. The gathering took place at the Swiss Alps conference centre in Davos on Tuesday, ahead of Trump's speech scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Article Analysis

Framing Angle

Diplomatic

Primary framing

Political Strategy

Secondary framing

Mixed Tone

Sensationalism

Mixed

Fact vs Opinion

OpinionFactual

Sources Cited

Well sourced

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Key Claims (5)

AI-Extracted

Mark Carney sounded the death knell for the rules-based global order.

factual — Mark Carney100% confidence

Emmanuel Macron warned about the risks of “new imperialism or new colonialism”.

quote — Emmanuel Macron100% confidence

Ursula von der Leyen warned that it would be a mistake to expect a return to normal.

factual — Ursula von der Leyen100% confidence

Trump's Treasury secretary urged US allies to calm down about Trump's comments.

factual — Scott Bessent100% confidence

California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, advised handling Trump like a T-Rex.

quote — Gavin Newsom100% confidence

Claims are automatically extracted and should be independently verified. Attribution indicates the stated source of the claim.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Greenland ×250% Scott Bessent 50% United States ×260% Ursula von der Leyen ×260% Gavin Newsom 60% Emmanuel Macron ×470% European Union ×370% Davos 70% World Economic Forum 70% Donald Trump ×790%

Keywords

donald trump 100% davos 90% european union 80% diplomacy 70% international relations 70% tariffs 60% geopolitics 60% emmanuel macron 60% ursula von der leyen 50% trade bazooka 40%