Davos Fallout: Rothkopf Says Trump's 'Embarrassing' Performance Is Damaging U.S. Credibility

Foreign-policy commentator David Rothkopf warns that President Donald Trump’s conduct at the World Economic Forum in Davos and his broader attacks on transatlantic alliances are eroding U.S. credibility in Europe.

Speaking on The Daily Beast Podcast, Rothkopf—former editor‑in‑chief of Foreign Policy—said the United States has relied on transatlantic ties for a century to sustain peace and prosperity, and argued that recent developments mark a dramatic rupture. “For a hundred years, the U.S. has made building transatlantic relationships the foundation of peace and prosperity for us, and for many, many people in the world. And it’s over,” he said. “Europe does not trust us anymore.”

Trump's Davos Appearance And Actions

At Davos, the 79‑year‑old president escalated a public campaign against NATO partners. He repeated a proposal to open talks to buy Greenland from Denmark, appeared to confuse Greenland with Iceland, and accused Denmark of being “ungrateful” for U.S. actions during World War II. Addressing European leaders, he claimed that without the U.S., “you’d all be speaking German and a little Japanese.”

French President Emmanuel Macron blasted Trump during his speech at Davos, saying, “We do prefer respect to bullies. We do prefer science to politicism. And we prefer the rule of law to brutality.” / Ludovic MARIN / AFP via Getty Images

In the days before Davos, Trump also threatened tariffs linked to Greenland, publicized private messages from European leaders, and suggested inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin to join a so‑called “Board of Peace.” Those moves, Rothkopf says, compounded the damage to long‑standing alliances.

Sharp Criticism And A Stark Warning

“It was a fiasco. It was a mess. Trump was embarrassing. Trump was offensive. Trump was a boor. Trump was an idiot,” Rothkopf said of the Davos appearance.

Rothkopf noted that Europe remains economically powerful—comparable in size to the U.S.—and retains influence over China and other global actors in ways that affect American strategic interests. He characterized the president’s pivot away from post‑World War II alliances as “a bright red line in history” and warned that the consequences will likely grow worse.

Concerns About Cognitive Fitness

Rothkopf also raised concerns about Trump’s cognitive condition, saying the president “is certainly not the Trump he was a year ago, and he’s not the Trump he was 10 years ago.” He suggested the current White House lacks advisers willing to check impulsive remarks, saying staff now “snap to attention” and amplify comments rather than restrain them.

Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images / Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images

Medical specialists have increasingly weighed in publicly. Psychologist Dr. John Gartner told The Daily Beast Podcast he sees a “massive increase” in “clinical signs of dementia,” citing disjointed speeches, abrupt topic shifts, and apparent memory lapses.

Administration Response

When asked for comment, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told The Daily Beast: “President Trump is the sharpest, most accessible and energetic President in modern American history. Anyone who would waste their time appearing on the Daily Beast podcast is a low life, left‑wing loser whose opinion is not worth a damn.”

The debate over Trump’s conduct at Davos, his approach to allies, and questions about his cognitive health underscores a deeper transatlantic rift that analysts say could have lasting implications for U.S. foreign policy.