President Trump, taking his "America First" foreign policy case to an elite gathering of political and business leaders Friday on the final day of the World Economic Forum, said that "America is open for business" and competitive once again.
Trump's brief remarks stressed that his administrations aims to make the U.S. a more competitive destination for business. He also stressed a U.S. commitment to free and open trade, but on terms it feels are fair and reciprocal.
"The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America," he said. "There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States. America is open for business and we are competitive once again."
"When the United States grows, so does the world," he said. "American prosperity has created countless jobs around the globe and the drive for excellence, creativity and innovation in the United States has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and healthier lives."
"America is roaring back and now is the time to invest in America," he told the Davos audience.
Underscoring his "America First" thinking on foreign policy, Trump said he was in Davos "to represent the interests of the American People, and to affirm America's friendship and partnership in building a better world."
"America first does not mean America alone," he emphasized.
"Like all nations represented at this forum, America hopes for a future in which everyone can prosper, and every child can grow up free form violence, poverty and fear," he told the audience in this wintry retreat.
He also served note that the U.S. would be tough on trade issues, saying he intends to "restore integrity to our trade system."
"We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal ... in the end, unfair trade undermines us all," the president said.
On non-economic issues, the president stressed that the international community should work together on security concerns, such as fighting the Islamic State group and the threat posed North Korea’s nuclear program.
Trump's pitch to this elite audience was particularly striking since it is the very crowd that has generally shunned him. At the same time, says Douglas Rediker, a global economy expert at the Brookings Institution think tank, it is a group that some would argue he has"always aspired to join."
There was no doubt, however, that his appearance was a hot ticket. Forum participates began lining up just after noon for the 2 p.m. speech amid a Saudi Arabia-sponsored lunch buffet. The Congress Hall, which holds 1,400 people, quickly filled to capacity.
The forum stepped up security for the event. Although every participant in the forum is vetted, wears a badge and is security-screened when entering the convention complex, Swiss Army soldiers performed additional services at the hall and barred all liquids.
Trump also appears to be finding favor with business leaders in and out of this wintry retreat. Several surveys published this week found that corporate leaders largely approve of his administration's recent corporate tax cuts and regulatory overhaul.
"I like a lot more stuff than I don’t like," Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein said here Wednesday.
Reports that Trump wanted to fire Robert S. Mueller, who is leading the investigation into whether there was collusion between his 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, threatened to overshadow the speech. The New York Times and Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump only backed down from dismissing Mueller after Donald McGahn, a White House lawyer, threatened to resign in protest.
“Fake news. Fake news," Trump responded Friday, in brief remarks made in the forum's main conference hall. "We have a tremendous crowd, and a crowd like they've never had before," he added. "It's a crowd like they've never had before at Davos. I assume they're here because of Klaus," he said, referring to Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum. Schwab was standing next to the president while he spoke.
Following a meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Trump ignored questions from journalists about vulgar language he used earlier this month to describe Haiti and African nations. Kagame is the chair of the African Union, a 55-country organization, that called on Trump to apologize over the comments. Trump said the two leaders had "tremendous discussions." Kagame said they talked about trade and the economy.
In an interview with the broadcaster Piers Morgan on Britain's ITV channel broadcast from Davos on Friday, Trump for the first time appeared to express regret for retweeting anti-Muslim posts by a leader of a far-right British group last year.
“If you're telling me they're horrible people, horrible racist people, I would certainly apologize if you would like me to do that,” Trump said when challenged.
