Trump's commerce secretary sparked stir in Davos, European Central Bank president walked out – FT

The Financial Times has learned that US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sparked a controversy at a dinner held as part of the World Economic Forum in Davos, and that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde even left the room during his speech.

Source: European Pravda, citing the Financial Times

Details: Several attendees said Lutnick's aggressive remarks on Tuesday evening sparked a heated reaction. Despite calls for calm from BlackRock chief Larry Fink, the event's organiser and interim co-chair of the WEF, loud shouts could still be heard in the room.

Sources told the FT that Lagarde was among those who had left the event during Lutnick's speech.

One attendee said Lutnick had told the audience that the world should prioritise coal over renewable energy and also made disparaging remarks about Europe.

Earlier, he had written an op-ed for the FT in which he stated: "We're not going to Davos to uphold the status quo. We're going to confront it head-on."

He also wrote: "We are here at Davos to make one thing crystal clear: With President Trump, capitalism has a new sheriff in town."

One executive present described the atmosphere as "tense", while another called it "noisy and spicy".

According to two executives in attendance, one of those shouting was former US vice president Al Gore.

The US Department of Commerce said, "Only one person booed, and it was Al Gore."

"I sat and listened to his remarks. I didn't interrupt him in any way. It's no secret that I think this administration's energy policy is insane. And at the end of his speech I reacted with how I felt, and so did several others," Gore said.

Background:

• During his speech in Davos, US President Donald Trump mentioned Germany's occupation of Denmark during World War II as one of the arguments for why he wants to control Greenland.
• He also said he sees no problem with the idea of the United States buying Greenland from Denmark, noting that the US has acquired territory in the past.

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