SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump’s twitter feud with teenage climate activist Greta Thunburg spilled over into real life Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as he announced U.S. participation in a massive global tree-planting initiative and railed against climate “alarmists.”
An hour later, Thunburg — a reoccurring target of the president’s tweets — seemed to respond, warning attendees that “our house is still on fire,” invoking a speech she made last year at the annual event. “Planting trees is good, of course, but it’s nowhere near enough of what needs to be done, and it cannot replace real mitigation or rewilding nature.”
Trump initially argued for positivity while announcing the United States would join in the World Wildlife Foundation’s One Trillion Tree Initiative. “And in doing so we will continue to show strong leadership in restoring, growing and better managing our trees and our forests,” Trump said. “This is not a time for pessimism. This is a time for optimism.”
But he went on to claim that climate crisis activists “want to see us do badly,” accusing them of grand political ambitions.
“These alarmists always demand the same thing: absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives. We will never let radical socialists destroy our economy, wreck our country or eradicate our liberty.”
Without ever saying her name, it wasn’t hard to imagine the president was evoking Thunberg. The most recent skirmish in their monthslong Twitter war took place just a month ago.
Early in the morning on Dec. 12, the president tweeted that Thunberg should “work on her Anger Management” and “Chill.” The teenager responded by updating her Twitter profile, mocking the U.S. president by stating that she was “Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend.”
Returning for her sophomore appearance at the forum, Thunberg either edited her remarks in the moments after the president’s speech and before her own address or had come well prepared to counter Trump.
“You say children shouldn’t worry,” she said. “You say, ‘Just leave this to us. We will fix this, we promise we won’t let you down. Don’t be so pessimistic.’ And then nothing. Silence. Or something worse than silence. Empty words and promises which give the impression that sufficient action is being taken.”
In her final statement, Thunberg addressed the adults and global decision-makers in the room. “Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fueling the flames by the hour. And we are telling you to act as if you loved your children above all else.”