Carney Speech on U.S. ‘Rupture’ and Canada’s Survival Draws Standing Ovation at Davos

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/20/world/canada/carney-speech-davos-trump.html?smid%3Dnytcore-ios-share

42 Comments

  1. WhoIsJolyonWest on

    Read free:

    Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada delivered a stark speech in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, prompting global political and corporate leaders in the audience to rise from their seats for a rare standing ovation.

    He described the end of the era underpinned by United States hegemony, calling the current phase “a rupture.” He never mentioned President Trump by name, but his reference was clear.

    The speech came as President Trump doubled down on his threats to take Greenland away from Denmark, saying he would slap fresh tariffs on European powers as punishment for their support of Greenland’s sovereignty.

    Global leaders have been scrambling to find a unified response.

    “Every day we’re reminded that we live in an era of great-power rivalry,” Mr. Carney said. “That the rules-based order is fading. That the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”

    And he warned, “The middle powers must act together because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”

    He would know.

    Mr. Trump started his second presidential term making claims on Canada as the 51st state and threatening Canada’s previous leader, Justin Trudeau, whom Mr. Trump publicly derided, with unilaterally scrapping agreements that have governed the relationship between the neighboring countries for over a century.

    He has imposed tariffs on Canada, which is one of America’s two top trading partners along with Mexico, that are crippling some of Canada’s key economic sectors, such as autos, steel, aluminum and lumber.

    Mr. Trump’s allies, particularly Steve Bannon, have talked about the benefits of the United States annexing Canada to access its vast Arctic and natural resources, including critical minerals and rare earths.

    Mr. Carney chastised other leaders too, many of whom would have been following his speech in Davos, for not standing up for their interests.

  2. He showed what he knows, as a man who makes sense
    He spoke and then left, truth needs no defense

  3. EU leaders should look up to Carney. No one should bow down to threats from an orange lunatic.

  4. Not as impressive when you see the rambling nonsense Trump just vomited all over the podium also got a standing ovation.

  5. I’m kinda taken aback at how much of a spotlight our PM’s speech has made on the international platform. A lot of people like what he said.

    I mean, he’s proven to Canadians he’s a stable leader and everything, but I guess he hasn’t made his mark internationally until now.

  6. America was blessed to have one of the most friendly and prosperous neighbors to possibly have, and it was pissed away, and for what purpose?

  7. Now,I’m waiting for President Pedophiles response. Am I going to be watching American troops invading my home?

  8. Successful_Gas_5122 on

    We know that it’s not all Americans, but when it comes to MAGA, one is too many.

  9. Honest question for Americans: How does it feel to listen to such a powerful speech applauded around the democratic world as a uniting force between friends and allies, but *specifically* uniting the world against what *your* Country is doing and is aiming to do? Not China, not Russia, not North Korea, but *you*, the USA.

  10. I imagine the UK rep was constantly nudging people and saying “Former head of the Bank of England, you know.”

  11. Trump’s Clap Back was the *Oh ya?* “Canada lives because of the United States…” real next level Demosthenes stuff there…

  12. Dazzling_Line_8482 on

    Trump’s speech where he confuses Greenland and Iceland also got a standing ovation so that sort of cheapens it a bit.

  13. A US civil war would be bad for the US, but man would it be good for the rest of the world at this point.

  14. Offtrack sidenote, but does anyone else find it weird that there are always articles posted that cannot be read because they are behind a paywall… yet everyone on reddit comments on the article anyhow?

  15. VideoKilledRadioStar on

    Brillant. Thoughtful. He sounded like a grown-up – that’s a rare quality in a politician these days.

  16. That was a proud moment for Canada on the international stage. Trump could only dream of being competent and eloquent.

  17. He’s right with everything he said, but I immediately noticed how everything he said about rituals we perform to uphold a lie in order to save the old world order can applied to that old world order he tries saving.

    Capitalism is treated as a law of nature. Billionaires getting richer and more powerful while the poor and powerless stay poor and powerless: Well, that’s just the way it is. Nothing you can do about it. But in reality, the success of the billionaires party is deeply engrained in the political system of the US: It’s in the Senate, it’s in the electoral college, it’s in donor based campaigns, it’s in who owns the media. It’s not coincidence that conservatives stay in power no matter what, it’s design.

    Capitalism is the reason the world is in this position: Because the America society allowed egoistic, narcissistic billionaires to become so rich they try and establish a socialdarwinistic oligarchy, where the US, following the same credo, feels entitled to just take what they want.

    The inevitably of unchained capitalism without any regards for human lives or the 99% is a ritual that needs to go. In every society.

  18. I feel like this idea needs some legs so people around the world can meaningfully contribute to it. It isn’t possible for us to all to move to Canada but if someone in Nigerian believes in these ideals and wants to contribute, they should be able to – that should be the new world order. 

  19. >If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu

    What a coherent and remarkable phrase said at the right moment!

  20. Sweaty_Marzipan4274 on

    Band together and ban FB, X, and everything US oligarch/ mega Corp. Make deals with China. Cancel all defense contracts. Sanction US financial interests. 

    US will fold fast. 

  21. Extension-Pick8310 on

    Which American has two thumbs and absolutely loves Canada taking a leadership post as the new leader of the free world?

    Dis one!