U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the United States is once again the driving force of the global economy, boasting of what he described as an unprecedented economic turnaround just one year after returning to the White House.
Trump made the remarks on Wednesday while addressing global CEOs and political leaders at the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, marking the first anniversary of his second inauguration.
“I come to this year’s World Economic Forum with very phenomenal greetings from America,” Trump said.
“After one year back at the White House, our economy is booming, productivity is surging, investment is soaring, and incomes are rising. Inflation is being defeated.”
The U.S. president claimed his administration had delivered the fastest economic recovery in American history, contrasting current economic indicators with what he described as “stagflation” under the previous Biden administration.
Economic Claims
Trump highlighted several economic figures to support his claims:
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Core inflation averaging about 1.6% over the past three months
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Fourth-quarter growth projected at 4.6%
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Between $18 trillion and $20 trillion in secured investments over the next four years
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U.S. economic growth projected to be double the rate forecast by the IMF
“When America booms, the world booms. When we go down, the world goes down with us,” Trump said, adding that the pace of economic growth had exceeded even his own expectations.
He also claimed that border controls had tightened significantly and that public confidence in his leadership was strong. “People are doing well and are very happy with me,” he said.
Subtle Swipe at Europe
While insisting he had no intention of offending European allies, Trump suggested parts of Europe were “not heading in the right direction.”
“I love Europe, and I want to see Europe good, but it is not heading in the right direction,” he said.
Greenland Tensions Overshadow Davos
Trump’s Davos appearance came amid growing diplomatic tensions over his renewed insistence that the United States should take control of Greenland, citing strategic and security concerns related to Russia, China, and Arctic mineral resources.
Although Trump has said he would not use force to seize the Danish territory, his comments have unsettled NATO allies.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged rising tensions, calling for “thoughtful diplomacy” to manage the situation. France has proposed a NATO military exercise in Greenland, while President Emmanuel Macron warned against what he described as U.S. attempts to “subordinate Europe.”
Trump has further escalated the dispute by threatening tariffs of up to 25% on several European countries supporting Denmark’s position.
Europe Pushes Back
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde criticised Washington’s posture, saying the U.S. was “behaving very strangely” for a long-time ally.
“When you are allies under the North Atlantic Treaty… threatening to seize territory that is clearly not for sale, such as Greenland, and waving tariff restrictions, is not really behaving like an ally,” Lagarde said.
Trump’s Davos address, while focused on economic triumphalism, underscored widening fractures between the United States and Europe over trade, security, and geopolitical influence—setting the tone for a tense global dialogue ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
