Trump tries to strike balance with economic leaders
DAVOS, Switzerland — Snow was piled high outside, but inside the Davos summit, relations between President Trump and the assembled global elites seemed to thaw.
Before Trump’s debut appearance at the World Economic Forum, critics speculated that the president would function as a protectionist bull in the free-trade-loving china shop. After all, this was a former reality television star who rode a wave of nationalist angst to the White House, blew up international trade deals and inflamed allies with his coarse rhetoric.
That uncertainty was clear as Trump arrived at the modern conference center Thursday for his two-day stay in the Swiss Alps. A hush fell on the crowd of people snapping photos and then someone asked the president how he would be treated.
“You tell me,” Trump shot back. Overall, not that bad. While there were scattered protests, some critiques and many panel discussions with Trumpwary titles — “Democracy in a Post-Truth Era” and “The Global Impact of America First” — the president’s visit also brought him praise from allies, a reception in his honor and a fawning dinner with European business executives.
“I think I have 15 new friends,” Trump enthused about his business dinner.
Forum Chairman Klaus Schwab did draw some hisses in his introduction of the president when he said Trump’s presidency could be subject to “misconceptions and biased interpretations.”
Trump then told the summit: “As president of the United States, I will always put America first just as the leaders of other countries should put their countries first.”
He then tried to strike a balance, tempering his nationalist agenda with reassurances to the globalist and cooperationminded audience that his protectionist vision “does not mean America alone.”
Trump even got a laugh about how he’s always been the recipient of good press coverage — but that quickly turned into boos when he made a crack about the “fake” media.
After a reception in his honor, Trump used his dinner with business leaders to boast about the booming U.S. economy, showcasing his recent tax overhaul and deregulation efforts before soliciting comments from the group.
As he has before, Trump went around the table of CEOs, bantering with the president of Volvo about Mack Trucks, noting to a Nestle executive that he’d read candy was not their primary product and telling a Bayer executive he takes a daily aspirin.