It's eat or be eaten

Davos elite warned of Trex Trump's teeth

- Heather Stewart and John Collingridge Davos

"There's no diplomacy with Donald Trump: he's a Trex. You mate with him or he devours you.

Debate at the World Economic Forum annual meetings is usually scrupulously polite, but as this year's gathering got under way in Davos yesterday, California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, had this blunt advice for handling the week's star speaker.

The US president was yet to arrive, but throughout the congress centre, the hottest topic among the global elite of business and politics was Trump's attack on European allies, threatening tariffs if they fail to let him annex Greenland.

US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent began the day by urging allies to dial down the "hysteria" in their reaction to the Trump's plan. "What I am urging everyone to do is sit back, take a deep breath, and let things play out," he said.

A string of European leaders who addressed delegates yesterday seemed very reluctant to wait and see what the T Rex is minded to do.