Trump to lecture liberal mega-rich at Davos summit
DONALD Trump will become the first US President in almost two decades to attend the annual gathering of the world’s super-rich elite in Davos.
The surprise move has raised eyebrows, as his America First agenda sits awkwardly with those who use the summit to promote unfettered global markets.
Mr Trump will take centre stage at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort this month, where he will take the opportunity to ruffle the feathers of bankers, business leaders and billionaires.
The event is seen as the most elite gathering on the planet, where business leaders attempt to tackle issues such as inequality and globalisation, while staying in the world’s most prestigious hotels and attending extravagant parties. It is thought Mr Trump will preach about his America First agenda, which critics see as protectionist.
The US leader will be the first to attend since Bill Clinton in 2000, and only the second in history. But he is not guaranteed to have a warm reception as he has an uneasy relationship with the world’s mega-rich, who like to see themselves as liberals and almost all backed his rival Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. These big names of business and finance are sure to give him a frostier welcome than last year’s star performer, China’s Communist leader Xi Jinping, whose praise of globalisation was cheered to the rafters. Mr Clinton’s speech 18 years ago was used to mount a staunch defence of free trade, but Mr Trump’s message is likely to be far more controversial. Many of the attendees are fierce opponents of his efforts to drag jobs and businesses back to America and away from cheaper countries in the developing world.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders last night said Mr Trump is excited about the trip, only his fifth foreign trip as President. His arrival will cause a security headache as scores of aides, snipers and bodyguards descend to keep him safe. It came as Mr Trump faced fresh questions over his mental capacity after he appeared to forget the words to the US national anthem.
He fumbled his way through The StarSpangled Banner and seemed to mouth gibberish while attending an American football game in Atlanta. As the music played, he put his hand on his chest and started off well by singing the opening words correctly. But soon after he appeared to be mouthing nonsense. Critics wrote on Twitter that he had a ‘mouth agape, thousand-yard stare’ and questioned his patriotism.
Jeremy Newberger wrote: ‘Which is worse, Trump doesn’t know the words to the National Anthem or Trump has dementia and can’t remember the words to the National Anthem?’ The state of his mind has been openly questioned following the publication last week of a bombshell book that claims the 71- year- old frequently repeats himself and cannot even read.