The annual World Economic Forum in Davos is known for bringing together the world’s elite to discuss “important” global issues over fancy dinners and rounds of self-congratulation. This year, the forum once again played host to heads of state, global CEOs, and illustrious figures seeking to pose as the saviors of humanity with lofty, out-of-touch speeches about economic equality—well, globalism, really. Now, it’s hard not to chuckle at people flying in on private jets to lecture the rest of us on reducing carbon footprints, but the irony was just the tip of the iceberg this time.
Enter Howard Lutnick, Commerce Secretary, who stormed into Davos with a mission to expose the flawed choir of the globalists. Lutnick penned an op-ed pointing out the failure of offshoring American manufacturing, which he argues has not benefited us here at home. During one of the many talks, he delivered a three-minute speech reinforcing his op-ed’s message. Amidst the polite applause, who should send a boo his way? None other than Al Gore! Yes, the same Al Gore who once gave us dire predictions that never came to fruition.
It’s almost poetic that Al Gore, whom many regard as the poster child for climate alarmism, couldn’t manage to engage in a real debate. Instead, his intellectual response to Lutnick’s points was a simple “boo.” The Secretary didn’t get rattled; quite the opposite, he declared it was the greatest honor of his trip. It’s not every day you get booed by a former vice president who’s predicted that our planet would have melted by now.
The spectacle at Davos is as much about the hobnobbing as it is about the “serious” discussions. With around 900 CEOs and countless global leaders all trying to one-up each other, one might wonder if anything substantial ever gets done. Lutnick noted how each participant tries to project their vision of a flawless global community, forgetting that empty talk rarely results in real-world solutions. It’s an elite club perpetually bent on solving problems of their own making, often at the expense of the very people they’re supposedly helping.
Meanwhile, back home, the U.S. has seen booming economic growth under Trump’s tenure. The Secretary highlighted how Trump’s policies placed American interests first, leading to record growth numbers that left global competitors scratching their heads. The Davos crowd can’t wrap their heads around it because they still operate under the notion that weakening the U.S. boosts the world. But reality, and Trump, have shown how misguided this is. As America thrives, it sets an example—an example that stands in stark contrast to the failed promises often echoed across Swiss mountains.
