Trump notifies world: U.S. ‘open for business’
DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump gave his salesman’s pitch for America on Friday before an international crowd of corporate and political titans, taking credit for its economic success even as he was shadowed by fresh clouds from home about his heightened jeopardy in the Russia investigation and opposition to his immigration plan.
Contrary to predictions that Trump might use his keynote address to the World Economic Forum in Davos to bash multilateral trade deals and international alliances, he appeared to soften the edges of his “America First” policy in his speech to the elites who gather in this Alpine resort each winter to champion free trade and global cooperation.
“America is open for business, and we are competitive once again,” Trump told several hundred attendees, reading his speech from teleprompters. “Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs and your investments to the United States.”
Some in the crowd booed and hissed when Trump, during a question-and-answer session that followed his speech, said it “wasn’t until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious, and how fake the press can be.”
Trump’s speech was partly overshadowed at home after the The New York Times reported late Thursday that Trump tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last June, halting the effort only after White House counsel Donald McGahn threatened to resign.
“Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories,” Trump told reporters.
Trump also could not escape fallout here from reports that he had labeled African nations “s--- hole countries” during a recent Oval Office meeting with several members of Congress.
The comments sparked widespread condemnation around the globe.
Trump ignored reporters’ questions about the crude language when he met early Friday with Paul Kagame, longtime president of Rwanda and incoming chairman of the African Union. Kagame is the first African leader Trump has met since his comments were reported Jan. 11.
The African Union had called on Trump to apologize for the remarks, which he has denied making.
“It’s a great honor to be with President Kagame,” Trump told reporters as he sat beside Kagame and several aides, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. “We have had tremendous discussions.”
Kagame also tried to smooth over the dispute, thanking Trump “for the support we have received from you … and your administration.”
Although the evidence was scant, Trump dropped at least one hint he might be moderating other views.
Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau announced here that his country would join 10 others that have agreed to move forward on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact without the United States.
Trump withdrew from the proposed accord shortly after taking office, calling it a “horrible deal.”
In his comments here, Trump cracked the door slightly to re-entering the TPP in some way, saying he was open to negotiating trade deals with the 11 countries “either individually, or perhaps as a group.”
That sparked a buzz of comment here and on social media as the White House had shown no sign it was reconsidering its TPP decision.
While global challenges like climate change and poverty dominate the agenda here, the CEOs and other top executives Trump met in his 36-hour visit publicly applauded the corporate tax cuts he signed into law last month.
All that put Trump in a good mood.
“I’ve been a cheerleader for our country,” Trump said in his speech, which echoed familiar White House talking points. “And everybody representing a company or a country has to be a cheerleader, or no matter what you do, it’s just not going to work.”
Trump said he will put America first just as other leaders should put their countries first.
Trump accused “some countries” of exploiting the international trading system at the expense of others. He said he supports free trade, but it “needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal.”
Trump also claimed credit for the booming U.S. economy, citing growth numbers and the removal of business regulations. That message was partly diluted by news Friday that U.S. growth slowed slightly in the fourth quarter to 2.6 percent, which was short of Trump’s projections.
The audience scored the tone of Trump’s speech carefully, given his antagonism to international organizations and pacts, such as the Paris climate accord, trade agreements and the Iran nuclear deal that are generally celebrated at the conference.