The profound implications of Davos: a stronger Europe and a weaker US

 An impression of the Davos conclave: a stronger Europe; a weaker US..It was more than just embarrassing as Trump in his usual off-script oratory, went off on his stolen election results in 2020, ended 8 wars, so he deserved the Nobel prize, got Greenland confused with Iceland, and insulted any number of European countries. World leaders at Davos vacillated between treating Trump like a dangerous, deranged egomaniac who declares his thoughts for the day as his policies or they flattered his ego, or began to show a backbone and call his bluff, bunders, and verbal blasts as something to take seriously, or acted like the adults in the room using careful diplomatic speak to mask their own feelings. Post Trump's on-stage act, CNN's interviews with European leaders was telling and a contrast with how real international leaders should speak.. This from the British Mirror is even more telling:Donald Trump's strongman act collapses - but now he's confirmed the world's worst fears     The most indepth and influential analysis came from Der Spiegel in Germany. Donald, that's enough! - DER SPIEGEL - The German View   The Germans have him figured out.  The opening sentence of the Der Spiegel substack reflected the disgust and failure of the European leaders to appease and flatter him: "One of the most reliable constants of Donald Trump's secpnd term is that he responds to weakness with brutality." and the closing paragraph on expecting more threats, though Trump folded in Greenland annexation for now was: "On Wednesday afternoon at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he (Trump) would b very grateful if the Europeans handed over Greenland voluntarily. 'If you say no, we will remember'. That is not how a president speaks. That is how a mafia boss speaks."    

The implications of this are profound for now and the future. Above all, Trump seems to have accomplished two things: get Europe and Canada unified to be independent of US support, and the US has lost control of influencing Europeans to agree to his priorities. He has lost any trust in words or policy pronouncements as his whims soar with his midnight rants on

Truth Social.

So what does it mean for those in the US? It means those whose businesses are dependent on trans atlantic trade are now ugly Americans abroad and are toxic as business partners. How this influences prices of everyday expenses like housing, construction, and groceries, subject to the insane tariff policies, is just being felt. What is noticeable when Trump makes his threats and divorces himself from our allies is that the stock market takes a dive. It may cause the bond market to collapse as foreign investors seek more friendly countries. Even Canada is seeking greater ties with China. It may also affect the oligarchs and uber wealthy bottom lines as the dollar dives. It means if Trump wants help with any of his own treasured delusional policies, Europe is likely to give him a one-finger salute. There is one upside: Europe has realized it has to take care of itself and not depend on the military umbrella of the US to give it a national defense shelter. Their priorities begin to differ from ours, and NATO is now weak and damaged goods, since mutual defense is now in question.

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The only winner is Putin, who loves to see NATO destroyed and the US not coming to the defense of Ukraine. clearing his way to an invasion of Poland, step two in Putin's goal to return Eastern Europe to the days of the USSR glory. It is like 1939 all over again. ..except now the US is also an aggressor, and our president is still seeing Putin as a desireable anti democracy peer and colleague.