Trump Blows Big Tech Kisses at Davos

Countries around the world have been eagerly awaiting the return of Donald Trump. This week, after Trump resumed his duties in the White House, the new president appeared again at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where his foreign policy became clear. First order of business? Declaring (economic) war on Europe, I think.

In Davos, when asked about his position in relation to the European Union, Trump took the opportunity to criticize America’s allies for being interested in punishing US companies for breaking the law.

“They took legal action against Apple and they should have won a case that most people don’t see as a case,” Trump said. “They won 15 or 16 billion from Apple. They won billions from Google. I think they’re after Facebook billions and billions. These are American companies, whether you like them or not. They’re American companies and they shouldn’t be doing this. As far as I know, that’s type of tax.

“We have a very serious complaint with the EU,” Trump concluded, repeating his point prepare to implement large tariffs to European countries if they refuse to buy products made in America.

Unlike in America – where the law enforcement agency of the government has been with the help of special interests it needs to monitor – Europe has a well-functioning parliament that sometimes proves that it is responsive to the will of the people. In recent years, the EU has provided much needed funding to make it happen to make wise laws on US technology platforms that dominate the Internet. So, Mr. Trump is right: Europe has been hitting American platforms with huge fines for violating the established rules. Apple was recently hit with a $2.7 billion fine by EU regulators, while Meta was recently fined $840 million for violating antitrust laws. Apple also owes money to Ireland like $14 billion in back taxes. Miscellaneous regulatory investigations The tech giants are on the move and it’s understandable that more fees are on the horizon.

Now, when Trump returns to the White House thanks, in part, to money from Silicon Valley, it is understandable that the big technology platforms involved in the European regulatory review would like to end. As tech CEOs prepare to debate the president, this is what companies like Apple, Meta, and Amazon are hoping for.

That said, the MAGA team and various partners have been experimenting attack and reform Europe for about ten years. Lib Dem groups with ties to Trump have long been interested developing relationships with European leadersin an attempt to inform their policies and push traditionally left-wing governments to the right.

During Trump’s first administration, MAGA supporter Steve Bannon traveled to Europe, trying to bring his “populist” politics to the Old World. To do that, Bannon bought an old Italian monastery and turned it into what he called “gladiator school,” or, more interestingly, “academy for the Judeo-Christian West.” The idea was that the monastery would be a breeding ground for political parties that would remove the established order in Europe and introduce a new type of right-wing politics. Bannon, who has been explaining want to destroy the EU, he said he wanted to fight for the common man, European identity, and, of course, the free market.

Although theatrical, Bannon’s efforts have been very unsuccessful. Some of the political parties formed as part of Bannon’s “group”. it’s over and Bannon’s “gladiator” monks haven’t seen much work, after being arrested and ongoing lawsuits and legal challenges.

In recent months, Elon Musk tried to step into Bannon’s shoes and wanted to use his international platform, X, to find himself, in particular a kind of political power in Europe. Like Bannon’s efforts, however, Musk’s lobbying appears to be (mostly) failing. A recent study found that, in the UK, where Musk has been constantly attacking the country’s Prime Minister, The tech billionaire was more unpopular than Megan Markle. Another study found Musk’s popularity was the lowest in Germanywhere he has been trying to promote a right-wing political party allied with the Nazis.