Lagarde walks out of Lutnick speech in Davos critical of Europe, sources say

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

January 21, 2026 8:58 AM EST Updated 2 hours ago


DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 21 (Reuters) - ECB President Christine Lagarde walked out of a dinner at the World Economic Forum during a speech critical of Europe by U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and the hosts called off the event before dessert, sources familiar with the matter said.

The European Central Bank president exited during a passage of heavy criticism levelled at Europe by Lutnick that drew heckling at the dinner on Tuesday night, said one of the sources who was briefed on what happened.

The dinner was hosted by BlackRock CEO Larry Fink as co-chairman of the WEF for all of the major members of the forum along with heads of state and other dignitaries, a person who was invited to it said.

A couple of hundred people were invited to the dinner. Fink ended the dinner before dessert after the heckling incident as people were walking out, one of the sources said. The ECB declined to comment on the report. The U.S. Commerce Department and the World Economic Forum did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/lutnick-heckled-davos-dinner-hosted-by-blackrocks-fink-ft-reports-2026-01-21/

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[Bengus81]

1. Quick Nutlick...when you get back run to the safe haven of FOX news.

[orangecrush]

16. You said Nutlick

[returnee]

22. An excellent Spoonerism. n/t

[Chasstev365]

2. Good!

[Ray Bruns]

3. The question I have is knowing Nutlick was going to speak, why'd they even bother to show up?

[PatSeg]

6. So they could stand up and walk out

They've become part of the news cycle now. Too bad they missed dessert though.

[Martin Eden]

20. That's the only reason Democrats should show up for T's state of the union address

To sit there and take all his lies and abuse while Republicans applaud would be absolutely sickening.

[PatSeg]

24. I agree

It must be torture to be there at all.

[riversedge]

4. I wonder what was on the menu for dessert?? Also--bet that was a very expensive dinner.

[Initech]

5. Good! Howard Lutnick is a fucking idiot!

[BidenRocks]

7. Licknutz never understood,

that Europeans are better educated than Americans and WILL NOT buy his bullshit!

(Most) Any European knows our elected officials and way of government.

Chump and cohorts prove it and get mad when they are told to 'hit the road'!

"Make America Go Away?

I hope you're proud of your worthless ass!

[tonekat]

8. Lutnick is out of his League

That's what happens when you put ideologues in cabinet positions. Glad they walked out.

[Bayard]

9. Bullshit for dessert?

No thank you.

[KS Toronado]

10. Will our elected Rs learn anything from this?

[wolfie001]

12. The republiCON party functions today as an outlet for racist Americans

Racism is their essence. Also, homophobia, creationism, flat earthism, snake handling, anti-science, anti-vax, anti-intellectualism, anti-public schools, anti-environment, anti-clean energy.....my god, the list is fucking long I mean, there's so much more.

[littlemissmartypants]

13. Bonus points for "snake handling" 😆🤓❤️

[wolfie001]

21. .....

[Ray Bruns]

18. No!

[surfered]

11. I think all of them should have laughed at him and then walked out

[littlemissmartypants]

14. 🍿❤️

[gfarber]

15. Lagarde Walks Out

There once was a dinner in Davos,
With suits, clinking glasses, and bravado.
When Europe was chided,
Lagarde up and decided
She’d exit that speech pronto, adios.

A secretary spoke with great zeal,
On Europe’s supposed ordeal.
But the heckling grew loud,
From a well-dressed crowd,
And the mood lost its diplomatic seal.

Christine of ECB fame,
Heard criticism sharper than blame.
Mid-speech she arose,
Past the forks and the prose,
Leaving silence to carry her name.

Larry Fink had convened them with care,
CEOs, heads of state everywhere.
But when voices turned sour,
He called time on the hour,
And dessert never made it to air.

A couple hundred had gathered to dine,
Expecting civility aged like wine.
Yet with tensions on tap,
The event took a snap,
And the sweets stayed behind the red line.

So ended a feast meant to bind,
The world’s movers, shakers, and kind.
No pudding, no flair—
Just a chair left quite bare,
And a lesson in global zeitgeist enshrined.

There once was a dinner in Davos,
Where billionaires sniffed their own chaos.
When Europe got flayed,
Lagarde said “I’m done, mate,”
And fucked off like a fiscal tornado.

A Yank with a podium barked,
“Europe’s a mess!”—with monarchs.
The crowd started booing,
Some hedge fund guy mooing,
While the wine turned aggressively dark.

Christine heard “blah blah, EU sucks,”
And thought, I did not fly here for schmucks.
She rose with a glare,
Knocked a chair into prayer,
And left them to choke on their bucks.

Larry Fink, king of assets and fate,
Watched decorum disintegrate.
With heckling and rage,
He said, “Fuck this charade,”
And killed dessert out of spite.

No pudding, no tart, no flambé,
Just egos sweating through rosé.
A trillion in suits,
All pissed in their boots,
While the mousse stayed in exile, okay?

A couple hundred elite assholes sat,
Wondering who leaked that.
The ECB’s tight-lipped,
Reuters sharpened its grip,
And Davos looked dumb as a hat.

So toast to the Forum’s big night,
Where diplomacy died in a fight.
No peace, no delight—
Just a walkout mid-snipe,
And a room full of pricks minus pie.

[colorado_ufo]

17. Bravo!!!

[Grins]

19. "Fink ended the dinner BEFORE dessert after the heckling incident as people were walking out..."

Right away - he knew what was soon going to happen!! Half the room would leave, and it would have been recorded for the world to see.

Smart of him.

[Joinfortmill]

23. Good.