Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stood before the elite crowd at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Tuesday and wasted no time in firing off an opening salvo, taking down globalist orthodoxy.
Speaking on a panel surrounded by world leaders and business titans who have long championed offshoring, cheap foreign labor, and borderless trade for the United States, Lutnick contrasted those views with a familiar, unapologetic America First ethos pushed by President Trump. It was a solid setup for when the President makes his own appearance at the WEF.
“The Trump Administration and myself, we are here to make a very clear point — globalization has failed the West and the United States of America,” Lutnick announced. "It’s a failed policy. It is what the WEF has stood for, which is export, offshore, far-shore, find the cheapest labor in the world, and the world is a better place for it.”
“The fact is, it has left America behind. It has left the American workers behind. And what we are here to say is ‘America First’ is a different model, one that we encourage other countries to consider, which is that our workers come first.”
The Commerce Department posted video of Lutnick's comments on X, adding that they are "done" exporting American jobs.
Globalization has FAILED.
— U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) January 20, 2026
Secretary Lutnick at the World Economic Forum:
“The Trump Administration and I are here to make a very clear point—globalization has failed the West and the United States of America. It’s a failed policy… and it has left America behind.”
America is… pic.twitter.com/Urxl7pZwSe
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Lutnick's blunt rejection of the WEF's sacred cow of globalization no doubt sets the tone for what's to come when the President makes his own remarks: no apologies, no concessions, just a fierce defense of putting American jobs, security, and sovereignty first. What a concept.
The Trump cabinet member didn't stop with dismantling globalization—he turned his fire on the green energy agenda consistently peddled by the WEF crowd. He flat-out mocked their rush to solar and wind as a recipe for economic suicide.
“Why are you going to do solar and wind? Why would Europe agree to be net zero in 2030 when they don’t make a battery? They don’t make a battery,” he said, exasperated by that notion.
Lutnick adds that engaging in such blind pursuits for the sake of the environment will make them "subservient to China.”
The looks on the other panelists are absolute gold. They seem a bit rattled.
Lutnick at Davos: "Why are you going to do solar and wind? Why would Europe agree to be net zero in 2030 when they don't make a battery? They don't make a battery! So if they go 2030, they are deciding to be subservient to China." (Get a load of the looks on the other panelists'… pic.twitter.com/f0uw7ZHcul
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 20, 2026
The complete rejection of virtue-signaling globalists to their face is glorious.
Lutnick's comments serve as a solid warm-up act for President Trump. There is massive anticipation for the president's appearance at Davos due to his aggressive push to acquire Greenland and tariff threats against European countries.
European elites are sweating right now. Good.
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