RealClearPolitics Podcast President Donald Trump’s Address to the World Economic Forum
Jan 21, 2026
The hosts dive into President Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum, where he humorously dismissed the idea of a forceful U.S. takeover of Greenland. They analyze the early moves of new Democratic governors in Virginia and New Jersey and discuss their implications for state politics. The conversation shifts to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's intriguing claim about being vetted by Kamala Harris’s team regarding his past. They also touch on immigration issues and cultural debates shaping future elections.
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Greenland Remarks Show Strategic Posturing
- Donald Trump framed Greenland as strategic and said he "won't use force" while still pressing the claim the U.S. has a stake.
- Hosts debated whether his Davos remarks calmed markets or reinforced unconventional foreign-policy thinking.
Trade Rhetoric Reveals Policy Misreads
- Carl Cannon argued Trump's trade remarks reveal misunderstanding of trade deficits and foreign purchasing power.
- He warned Trump's rhetoric risks reversing long-standing U.S. norms about fighting for freedom, not seizing territory.
Globalization Critique Tied To Energy Risks
- The administration's message at Davos reframed globalization as having failed Western interests and hollowed out industry.
- Hosts noted energy and battery supply chains as focal examples linking trade to strategic dependence on China.
