By David Blevins, US correspondent

He has boarded Air Force One in Zurich, leaving the World Economic Forum digesting the impact of Trump 2.0.

Donald Trump’s participation there has demonstrated two things – the extent to which the world gravitates towards and around him; and the extent to which he thrives on validation. 

From Greenland to Gaza to Ukraine, everything revolved around the 79-year-old president of the United States.

NATO boss Mark Rutte gave a masterclass in the art of approval, massaging the ego of the world’s most powerful man. Many will criticise him for that, but it produced the desired result – a “deal” on Greenland that appears to do little but reaffirm the status quo. 

But it has taken threats to seize Greenland by force or declare a US/European trade war off the table, for now.

Nineteen world leaders queued up for a picture with the president as they signed up to his Board of Peace for Gaza – more validation.

And Volodymyr Zelenskyy adopted the same tactic, comparing Europe’s approach to Greenland with Trump’s approach to Venezuela.

The Ukrainian leader thanked Europe for security guarantees but added: “The backstop of President Trump is needed.” There is it again – validation.

His “top-billing” speech lacked energy and he clearly mistook Iceland for Greenland several times, but Trump achieved what he went to do.

He has reminded the world that the US is the dominant player on the stage and that he is the disrupter-in-chief.