Nothing could be more appropriate than discussing American energy policy before the world’s economic leadership. But nothing could be more alarming than watching the President of the United States use that platform to mislead, insult, and embarrass America, our allies and himself.

At the recent Davos Economic Summit, President Trump did not project strength. He bragged about harmful self endeavors to cease clean power while projecting ignorance on the subject of energy.

To any informed listener, the spectacle was painful: falsehoods, distortions, and bombastic claims delivered with absolute confidence yet zero evidence. It was hard to watch an American president — before global leaders who actually understand energy systems — present himself as a caricature of incompetence.

This was not merely embarrassing. It was dangerous.

The Davos summit should have been an opportunity to demonstrate thoughtful leadership on energy security, climate stability, and economic resilience. Instead, in my opinion, it became a watermark moment — revealing how detached this administration is from reality and from the modern energy world.

Foreign policy by impulse, not planning

Consider the administration’s reckless behavior abroad.

In Venezuela, military actions were justified under the pretext of stopping fentanyl trafficking — but that assertion collapses under even minimal scrutiny. Venezuela does not rank among the world’s major narcotics exporters; Mexico does. Rather than targeting offshore financial institutions where drug money is laundered and protected, the administration launched missile strikes on small boats — killing impoverished fishermen while the actual criminal networks remained untouched.

Missiles costing hundreds of thousands of dollars were used where law enforcement, financial investigations, and international cooperation could have been used.

Then came the seizure of oil tankers carrying some of the dirtiest crude on the planet — declared “America’s oil” by our President. This was presented as a solution for America’s energy future.

It wasn’t.

U.S. oil companies rejected the plan outright. The project was economically uninvestable: unstable governance, massive capital requirements, and crude that demands extraordinary refining infrastructure. Exxon and other majors were never initially consulted. A smart businessman would have asked first in a similar situation. Instead, provocation came first. Planning came never.

Greenland: confusion and fantasy

When Venezuela failed, the administration pivoted — absurdly — to Greenland.

Greenland was suddenly described as a strategic energy and security necessity, supposedly threatened by Russia and China. This ignored reality: the United States has maintained a strategic military presence there since World War II. Pituffik Space Base (formerly Thule Air Force Base) has long been part of northern defense infrastructure.

We have already attempted large-scale projects in Greenland. They failed.

Operation Iceworm and Camp Century — one of which was nuclear-powered — were abandoned decades ago because the ice proved unstable. Today, climate change only worsens that instability. The idea that Greenland could suddenly become a secure energy or mining hub betrays a stunning lack of research.

Even more troubling, the President routinely confuses Iceland with Greenland — and energy with electricity. These are not minor slips. They reveal a fundamental lack of understanding.

Lies about wind power — before the world’s experts

At Davos, the President declared that renewable energy — particularly wind power — doesn’t work.

The audience included hundreds of CEOs whose companies have relied on wind and solar for decades.

He claimed:

• “Every time a windmill turns, you lose a thousand dollars.”

• China has no wind farms.

• Britain is “losing the North Sea.”

• Germany is suffering massive power losses.

• Wind farms are being shut down across the United States.

• Nuclear plants can be approved in three weeks.

None of this is true.

Wind turbines — not “windmills” — power large portions of modern economies. China operates the world’s largest wind fleet. Germany derives roughly 40% of its electricity from wind and solar. The United Kingdom generates about 40% of its electricity from wind alone. The North Sea is one of the most productive offshore wind regions on Earth.

These are not opinions. They are facts.

In conclusion: Why the lies?

So why does the President persist?

Is it arrogance? Distraction? A belief that no one will challenge him? Reliance on ideologically filtered information? The habit of placing industry insiders in regulatory roles?

Or is it something more calculated?

Suppressing renewable energy is not accidental. It is a method of control.

Despite the rhetoric, modern conservatism is not about “less government.” It is about centralized dependence. Renewable energy — wind, solar, geothermal — threatens that dependence by allowing individuals and communities to produce their own power.

Energy independence is personal independence.

If people can generate their own electricity, heat their homes, fuel their vehicles, and reduce their cost of living, they become harder to control. Petro-dictators lose leverage. Wars over fuel lose purpose. Corrupt governments lose power.

Imagine a world where people produce their own energy:

• The Middle East would no longer be a perpetual battleground.

• Russia could not finance endless wars.

• Citizens would gain real power — not rhetorical power, but practical freedom.

That future terrifies authoritarian thinkers.

And that is why renewable energy is attacked — not because it fails, but because it succeeds.

To the reader: For a text/PDF copy of the speech of the U.S. President at Davos please email me at jimbobreski@yahoo.com.