Trump Team Trolls Gore
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said he considers being booed during a high-profile dinner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a badge of honor—particularly given who took offense.
Speaking on Jesse Watters Primetime, Lutnick said the negative reaction followed brief remarks criticizing globalism and elite economic thinking that often dominates the annual Davos gathering. He noted that pushback from former Vice President Al Gore, a longtime climate activist, only underscored the ideological divide.
Lutnick also referenced Gore’s past climate predictions, arguing that many of the most alarming forecasts failed to materialize. He suggested those claims weakened public confidence and discouraged open debate on energy and economic policy.
According to multiple media reports, the roughly 200-person dinner became tense after Lutnick’s comments. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde reportedly left the room, and the event concluded earlier than planned—before dessert was served.
The Commerce Secretary later explained that his remarks closely followed an opinion article he authored criticizing globalism and the World Economic Forum, the organization hosting the event. He described the dinner conversation as heavily tilted toward progressive economic ideas, including calls for what some speakers labeled a “new form of capitalism.”
Lutnick said such proposals resemble centralized economic control rather than free-market principles. He added that his comments lasted only a few minutes and focused on defending national sovereignty, economic independence, and traditional market values.
Gore later disputed reports that he alone reacted negatively. In a statement to Mediaite, Gore said he listened without interrupting but expressed disagreement afterward, calling the administration’s energy policies misguided. He added that others in attendance shared his reaction.
The episode highlighted growing friction between the Trump administration’s economic agenda and the global elite consensus often showcased at Davos—a divide that Lutnick appeared willing to confront directly, regardless of the response.
