Thousands of protesters clashed with police in Zurich overnight as US President Donald Trump prepared to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos. Demonstrators burned American flags and carried signs reading 'Put the Trumpster in the dumpster' and 'Trump not welcome here', expressing anger over his threats to take over Greenland.
Violent confrontations broke out after windows were smashed and property damaged, according to Swissinfo. Police in riot gear used water cannon, chemical irritants and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, who had pelted officers with stones and fireworks. No injuries were reported.
In a separate protest, activists from the NGO Campax projected a cartoon image of Trump onto a ski slope with the words 'Spirit of plutocracy'. The protests come as Trump is due to deliver a speech on Wednesday at the summit, which gathers over 3,000 participants including CEOs and at least 60 world leaders.
Trump has doubled down on his Greenland threats, writing on social media that 'there can be no going back'. He has threatened tariffs on countries trading with Greenland, prompting a retaliatory threat from Europe of tariffs worth an estimated €93bn. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticised Trump's tariffs and emphasised Europe's capabilities in the Arctic during her speech at Davos on Tuesday.
Protests have also taken place in Greenland, where 5,000 people attended the largest demonstration in its history, including Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Similar protests have occurred across Denmark. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential presidential hopeful, called European and American leaders 'pathetic' for failing to challenge Trump's rhetoric, likening him to a T-rex that either mates with or devours opponents.
