> DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 21 (Reuters) – ECB President Christine Lagarde walked out of a dinner at the World Economic Forum during a speech critical of Europe by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and the hosts called off the event before dessert, sources familiar with the matter said.
The European Central Bank president exited during a passage of heavy criticism levelled at Europe by Lutnick that drew heckling at the dinner on Tuesday night, said one of the sources who was briefed on what happened.
> The dinner was hosted by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink as co-chairman of the WEF for all of the major members of the forum along with heads of state and other dignitaries, a person who was invited to it said.
A couple of hundred people were invited to the dinner. Fink ended the dinner before dessert after the heckling incident as people were walking out, one of the sources said.
> The ECB declined to comment on the report. The U.S. Commerce Department and the World Economic Forum did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
>U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand to take over Greenland has been met with fierce, emotional opposition from European leaders. He is expected to address the annual gathering of the global elite in the Swiss resort town of Davos on Wednesday.
US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick was heckled at a World Economic Forum dinner in Davos, with European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde walking out during his speech.
The gathering on Tuesday night descended into uproar after combative remarks from Lutnick, according to several people present, with widespread jeering amid appeals for calm from BlackRock’s Larry Fink, the host of the event and interim co-chair of the WEF.
Lagarde was among the attendees who walked out during the speech, according to people familiar with the matter.
This year’s gathering in the Alps has the theme: “A spirit of dialogue.”
Lutnick told his audience that the world should focus on coal as an energy source rather than renewables, according to one person present, and made dismissive comments about Europe.
He had earlier on Tuesday written an op-ed for the FT in which he said: “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 chief executive present described the atmosphere as “tense”, while another said it was “noisy and spicy”.
One of the hecklers was Al Gore, the former US vice-president, according to two executives present.
The US commerce department said: “Only one person booed, and it was Al Gore.”
Gore said: “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.”
Fink has sought to stabilise the WEF after a tumultuous chapter under the leadership of Klaus Schwab in which the organisation was rocked by allegations of financial misconduct and a toxic work environment. An investigation cleared Schwab of misconduct allegations.
Fink and Roche vice-chair André Hoffmann have headed up the WEF’s governing board since August.
Fink told the FT before the conference: “We are living in a more polarising world. There’s more people talking at each other, not to each other.” He added: “It is my role to elevate everybody and have a serious conversation.”
US and EU relations are at a low ebb after the US president threatened to impose new tariffs on certain European countries if he is not allowed to “acquire” Greenland.
The WEF did not respond to a request for comment.
The ECB declined to comment.
BahutF1 on
We need to be a special kind of prick to make a frenchie disdains a dinner.
Bobbytrap9 on
He looks like a sleezy Zak Brown
Time_News_8452 on
It’s like inviting a shaman to give a speech about proper rain dances at a meteorologists congress.
scarab1001 on
Literally happened two days ago
Brilliant-Smile-8154 on
Understandable. I’d have walked out too.
Internal_Sun_9632 on
What a POS. Glad us europeans aren’t taking this shit anymore.
Diligent_Peach7574 on
Just remember, Nutlick is the type of guy to buy an apartment from Epstein so he could live close to him. (Yes, he actually did this.)
Interesting_Wolf_668 on
On a side note Larry Fink’s interview with Elon Musk at Davos was also unbearable.
RedLemonSlice on
Why is almost everyone working for Trump looking exactly like someone who would persistently try to sell me a rusted out junker 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser with blown engine for MSRP + commission ?
kewthewer on
Look at that underbite.. no wonder people don’t listen.
14 commenti
> DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 21 (Reuters) – ECB President Christine Lagarde walked out of a dinner at the World Economic Forum during a speech critical of Europe by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and the hosts called off the event before dessert, sources familiar with the matter said.
The European Central Bank president exited during a passage of heavy criticism levelled at Europe by Lutnick that drew heckling at the dinner on Tuesday night, said one of the sources who was briefed on what happened.
> The dinner was hosted by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink as co-chairman of the WEF for all of the major members of the forum along with heads of state and other dignitaries, a person who was invited to it said.
A couple of hundred people were invited to the dinner. Fink ended the dinner before dessert after the heckling incident as people were walking out, one of the sources said.
> The ECB declined to comment on the report. The U.S. Commerce Department and the World Economic Forum did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
>U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand to take over Greenland has been met with fierce, emotional opposition from European leaders. He is expected to address the annual gathering of the global elite in the Swiss resort town of Davos on Wednesday.
Nutlick
Further on this subject
https://www.ft.com/content/e2ae0417-6146-4428-96db-0484a6b024d1
US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick was heckled at a World Economic Forum dinner in Davos, with European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde walking out during his speech.
The gathering on Tuesday night descended into uproar after combative remarks from Lutnick, according to several people present, with widespread jeering amid appeals for calm from BlackRock’s Larry Fink, the host of the event and interim co-chair of the WEF.
Lagarde was among the attendees who walked out during the speech, according to people familiar with the matter.
This year’s gathering in the Alps has the theme: “A spirit of dialogue.”
Lutnick told his audience that the world should focus on coal as an energy source rather than renewables, according to one person present, and made dismissive comments about Europe.
He had earlier on Tuesday written an op-ed for the FT in which he said: “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 chief executive present described the atmosphere as “tense”, while another said it was “noisy and spicy”.
One of the hecklers was Al Gore, the former US vice-president, according to two executives present.
The US commerce department said: “Only one person booed, and it was Al Gore.”
Gore said: “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.”
Fink has sought to stabilise the WEF after a tumultuous chapter under the leadership of Klaus Schwab in which the organisation was rocked by allegations of financial misconduct and a toxic work environment. An investigation cleared Schwab of misconduct allegations.
Fink and Roche vice-chair André Hoffmann have headed up the WEF’s governing board since August.
Fink told the FT before the conference: “We are living in a more polarising world. There’s more people talking at each other, not to each other.” He added: “It is my role to elevate everybody and have a serious conversation.”
US and EU relations are at a low ebb after the US president threatened to impose new tariffs on certain European countries if he is not allowed to “acquire” Greenland.
The WEF did not respond to a request for comment.
The ECB declined to comment.
We need to be a special kind of prick to make a frenchie disdains a dinner.
He looks like a sleezy Zak Brown
It’s like inviting a shaman to give a speech about proper rain dances at a meteorologists congress.
Literally happened two days ago
Understandable. I’d have walked out too.
What a POS. Glad us europeans aren’t taking this shit anymore.
Just remember, Nutlick is the type of guy to buy an apartment from Epstein so he could live close to him. (Yes, he actually did this.)
On a side note Larry Fink’s interview with Elon Musk at Davos was also unbearable.
Why is almost everyone working for Trump looking exactly like someone who would persistently try to sell me a rusted out junker 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser with blown engine for MSRP + commission ?
Look at that underbite.. no wonder people don’t listen.
part of the cringe as fck starter kit, this one.