Swiss protesters have burned American flags on the streets of Zurich, delivering a defiant message to US President Donald Trump ahead of his visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Demonstrators gathered overnight, with signs reading “Put the Trumpster in the dumpster” as thousands voiced their opposition to the president’s attendance.
Violent clashes broke out between protesters and police after windows were smashed and properties damaged, according to Swissinfo. Officers in riot gear used water cannon, chemical irritants and rubber bullets to break up the demonstration shortly after 9:30pm, following reports that protesters threw stones and fireworks. No injuries were reported.
Separately, activists from the Swiss NGO Campax projected a cartoon image of Trump onto a ski slope, alongside the words “Spirit of plutocracy”. The protests come amid anger over Trump’s threats to take over Greenland, a territory he claims the US needs for security reasons. He has yet to rule out military action, and on Tuesday wrote on social media: “There can be no going back.”
Trump’s tariff threats against countries trading with Greenland have prompted a retaliatory threat from Europe of tariffs estimated to be worth €93bn. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, criticised Trump’s tariff threats in a speech in Davos on Tuesday, while emphasising Europe’s capacity to police the Arctic.
Protests have also taken place in Greenland, where 5,000 people attended the largest demonstration in its history in Nuuk, including the territory’s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen. Similar protests have been held across Denmark. California governor Gavin Newsom, a potential presidential hopeful, called European and American leaders “pathetic” for failing to challenge Trump’s rhetoric, saying: “They need to stand tall, stand firm, stand united.”
