Gerard P. Craughwell: Urges world to 'tackle' Trump after Davros speech
Gerard P. Craughwell criticised world leaders at Davros and denounced the President of the United States as a bully, urging that he be confronted. He praised Mark Carney's speech and argued nations should not be cowed by threats such as tariffs.
Takeaway from Davros
Gerard P. Craughwell opened by citing Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, and praised his Davros speech as a strong stand against the President of the United States. He condemned the President as "the greatest bully this world has ever known" and criticised other world leaders for waiting to hear what he would say.
Bullying and personal experience
Craughwell drew on seven years of workplace bullying to explain his view that bullies must be confronted directly. He said he learned the only effective response is to tackle a bully head on and urged the same approach for international leadership.
Economic pressure and tariffs
He dismissed fears that confronting the President would fatally destabilise the world economy, saying it could do no more than the President has already done. Craughwell accepted the threat of tariffs as a reality and said, "Let him bring them on," arguing the issue is calling a bully out rather than appeasing him.
Territorial comments and escalation
Craughwell rejected focusing on single issues such as Greenland, warning that if the President secured one concession he would demand more. He framed the wider problem as a pattern of escalating demands that must be resisted.
Strategic alternatives recommended
As a response to pressure from the United States, Craughwell urged countries to build relationships eastward, specifically naming India and Pakistan. He argued that looking east and diversifying partnerships would reduce the ability of the President to use threats to control other nations.
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Yesterday, Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, spoke at Davros. What a speech. What a strong international world leader who has finally stood up to the man who is the President of the United States and the greatest bully this world has ever known. Trump moves from one extreme to the other. And in 12 months he has thrown the world into turmoil. World economy. He plays with countries. He plays with people. And what are we hearing today? That the world leaders in Davros are waiting to hear what Trump has to say. To sit there like little boys and wait to hear what the great Trump has to say. One of the politicians from the United States said those attending from Europe should bring knee pads with them and kneel down and pay homage to this bully. It is time that we stood up and stopped allowing this man kick us all around the place. And I know the arguments that will be given. Our economy depends on being nice with the United States. And we've got to be careful because the United States is the world power. The world has changed. Donald Trump has changed the world forever. I experienced bullying in the workplace many, many years ago. Seven years of it. And in the end one night I woke up and I said I've got to stop this. And I found out the only way to tackle a bully is head on. Trump must be tackled. It's not about Greenland because if he gets Greenland he'll want something else. And if he gets something else he will want something more. It is about calling a bully out for what he is. If it destabilises the world economy it cannot do more than he has done already himself. The threat of tariffs. Let him bring them on. What needs to happen is we need to start looking east like other countries. Build relationships with India. Build relationships with Pakistan. Build relationships going east. Trump cannot hold us to threats any longer.
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