Al Gore Boos Trump’s Cabinet Member as Switzerland Dinner Turns ‘Spicy’: ‘I Reacted with How I Felt’

Former Vice President Al Gore made his views on the Trump administration clear after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick addressed business and political leaders at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

At a dinner event in Davos, Switzerland, Lutnick delivered combative remarks that reportedly frustrated many attendees, according to witnesses who spoke to the Financial Times. The outlet reported that Lutnick was dismissive toward Europe and argued the world should prioritize coal over renewable energy — comments that were met with “widespread jeering” in the room. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who hosted the dinner, reportedly urged the crowd to calm down, and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde was among those who left early, per the report.

One executive described the dinner as “tense,” while another called it “noisy and spicy.” Two witnesses said Gore — a longtime climate advocate — was among those reacting in the room.

In a statement about the report, Gore said he “sat and listened” to Lutnick and “didn’t interrupt him in any way” while he spoke.

“It’s no secret that I think this administration’s energy policy is insane,” Gore, 77, said. “And at the end of his speech I reacted with how I felt, and so did several others.”

The U.S. Department of Commerce disputed the account, saying, “Only one person booed, and it was Al Gore.”

The following day at the forum, President Donald Trump, 79, addressed an issue closely watched in Europe, calling for “immediate negotiations” for the U.S. to acquire Greenland — while also softening his tone on the possibility of force.

“I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force,” he said.

After Trump’s remarks, Gore also took aim at the president’s comments, telling a reporter, “I would hate to be the fact checker that had to go through that speech.”

Gore has been an outspoken critic of Trump during his second term. At San Francisco Climate Week last April, he delivered a sharp speech that drew parallels between the administration’s mass deportation program and early Nazi Germany.

“We’ve already seen, by the way, how populist authoritarian leaders have used migrants as scapegoats and have fanned the fires of xenophobia to fuel their own rise of power,” Gore said at the time. “And power-seeking is what this is all about. Our constitution, written by our founders, is intended to protect us against a threat identical to Donald Trump.”

Gore isn’t the only former American leader to criticize the current administration.

In his first speech after leaving the White House, President Joe Biden condemned the administration’s early actions, saying, “In fewer than 100 days, this administration has done so much damage and so much devastation. It’s breathtaking that it could happen so fast.”

Former President Barack Obama also criticized the administration, focusing on its approach to the press during a speech at Hamilton College last April.

“Imagine if I had done any of this,” Obama told the audience. “Imagine if I had pulled Fox News’ credentials from the White House press corps. You’re laughing, but this is what’s happening.”