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| Trump in Davos: Analysis of the President’s World Economic Forum Speech | Trump in Davos: Analysis of the President’s World Economic Forum Speech |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| • President Trump broke with precedent by delivering a speech at the World Economic Forum on Friday, saying that “America first is not America alone.” | • President Trump broke with precedent by delivering a speech at the World Economic Forum on Friday, saying that “America first is not America alone.” |
| • Mr. Trump said earlier Friday that a New York Times report that he had ordered the firing of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, was “fake news.” | |
| • The president said separately that he thought he could persuade hard-liners in his party to accept a proposed immigration compromise. | |
| President Trump used his speech to set out his economic record, while seeking to reconcile his “America first” protectionist stance with a call for free trade and foreign investment. | President Trump used his speech to set out his economic record, while seeking to reconcile his “America first” protectionist stance with a call for free trade and foreign investment. |
| Mr. Trump took credit for the strong American economy, which he said had followed “years of stagnation.” He also pointed to rising stock prices, improving consumer and business confidence, and job growth. Growth in gross domestic product since he took office, however, is similar to that of previous years. | |
| Addressing the World Economic Forum, the Alpine conclave of business and political elites that American presidents have usually shunned, Mr. Trump said he would “always put America first, just as the leaders of other countries should put their countries first.” | Addressing the World Economic Forum, the Alpine conclave of business and political elites that American presidents have usually shunned, Mr. Trump said he would “always put America first, just as the leaders of other countries should put their countries first.” |
| “But America first does not mean America alone,” he said. “When the United States grows, so does the world.” | “But America first does not mean America alone,” he said. “When the United States grows, so does the world.” |
| Mr. Trump — never invited when he was a businessman — also delivered the message that the United States was open for business, appealing for international investment. | Mr. Trump — never invited when he was a businessman — also delivered the message that the United States was open for business, appealing for international investment. |
| But he hit one of his favorite themes: that the global free trade regime has often treated the United States unjustly. | But he hit one of his favorite themes: that the global free trade regime has often treated the United States unjustly. |
| “We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others,” Mr. Trump said. “We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal, because in the end, unfair trade undermines us all. The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices.” | “We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others,” Mr. Trump said. “We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal, because in the end, unfair trade undermines us all. The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices.” |
| Mr. Trump specifically mentioned theft of intellectual property and central government direction of economies. In the past, he has linked those practices with China, but on Friday he did not do so.—RICHARD PEREZ-PENA | Mr. Trump specifically mentioned theft of intellectual property and central government direction of economies. In the past, he has linked those practices with China, but on Friday he did not do so.—RICHARD PEREZ-PENA |
| Speakers at the World Economic Forum usually celebrate globalization, praise diversity and decry climate change. So Friday’s speech by President Trump, who has at times voiced skepticism on all three stances, was warily awaited by the assembled business leaders and government leaders. | |
| They need not have worried. | |
| Sounding more like the businessman he used to be than the outspoken populist he has become, Mr. Trump delivered a broad endorsement of recently passed Republican tax legislation. He said he favored free trade, provided that abusive trade practices by other countries were curbed. And he emphasized the importance of raising the prosperity of all Americans, particularly mentioning low unemployment among African-Americans. | |
| But almost completely missing from his remarks was the sometimes confrontational nationalism of his election campaign and many of his tweets. | |
| Mr. Trump instead portrayed the United States and other nations as having common interests, remarking that, “When the United States grows, so does the world.” | |
| He said that the United States was “lifting up forgotten communities,” and was fulfilling the dreams of Americans for “a great job, a safe home and a better life for their children.” | |
| The president also took enthusiastic credit for rising share prices, saying that, “the stock market is smashing one record after another.” | |
| Asked by Klaus Schwab, the executive chairman of the World Executive Forum, about the recent tax overhaul, Mr. Trump took visible delight in talking about companies that have already responded by offering bonuses to their workers. The bonuses, “became like a big beautiful waterfall,” Mr. Trump said, adding that the rapidity with which companies acted was “something we didn’t anticipate.” | |
| But discerning the future direction of American economic policy, and particularly American trade policy, was hard to do from Friday’s speech, as Mr. Trump instead appeared to be providing a broad vision of leadership. “I think I’ve been a cheerleader for our country,” he said. —KEITH BRADSHER | |
| • For more on the intersection of business and policy at Davos, check out the DealBook Briefing. | |
| Upon arrival at the Congress Center in Davos, President Trump was greeted by a scrum of the forum’s participants snapping cellphone photos and a large group of reporters asking why he had ordered the firing last June of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, as The New York Times reported. | Upon arrival at the Congress Center in Davos, President Trump was greeted by a scrum of the forum’s participants snapping cellphone photos and a large group of reporters asking why he had ordered the firing last June of Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, as The New York Times reported. |
| “Fake news, folks,” Mr. Trump replied. “Fake news. A typical New York Times fake story.” —ELISABETH BUMILLER | |
| While he is meeting with world leaders, President Trump is still partly focused on negotiations back home over immigration, asserting in an interview that he thought he could win over hard-liners in his party to a compromise deal he has proposed. | While he is meeting with world leaders, President Trump is still partly focused on negotiations back home over immigration, asserting in an interview that he thought he could win over hard-liners in his party to a compromise deal he has proposed. |
| He mentioned, in particular, Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, David Perdue of Georgia and John Cornyn of Texas, and Representative Robert W. Goodlatte of Virginia. “These are people that really have shifted a lot,” he told CNBC. “They’ve really shifted a lot and I think they’re willing to shift more, and so am I.” | He mentioned, in particular, Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas, David Perdue of Georgia and John Cornyn of Texas, and Representative Robert W. Goodlatte of Virginia. “These are people that really have shifted a lot,” he told CNBC. “They’ve really shifted a lot and I think they’re willing to shift more, and so am I.” |
| Mr. Trump has proposed legislation that would restore the Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, that protects younger immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. His plans even go beyond that program by providing a path to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million people. In exchange, he has demanded that Democrats support up to $25 billion to build a wall along the Mexican border and other tough enforcement measures. | Mr. Trump has proposed legislation that would restore the Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, that protects younger immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. His plans even go beyond that program by providing a path to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million people. In exchange, he has demanded that Democrats support up to $25 billion to build a wall along the Mexican border and other tough enforcement measures. |
| In Davos on Friday, meanwhile, Mr. Trump delivered a two-edged message to the world: Send your money, but not necessarily your people. | |
| “There has never been a better time to hire, to invest and to grow in the United States,” he said. “America is open for business, and we are competitive once again.” | “There has never been a better time to hire, to invest and to grow in the United States,” he said. “America is open for business, and we are competitive once again.” |
| But he also reiterated his insistence on tougher immigration controls, particularly an end to what he called “extended family chain migration.” —PETER BAKER & RICHARD PEREZ-PENA | But he also reiterated his insistence on tougher immigration controls, particularly an end to what he called “extended family chain migration.” —PETER BAKER & RICHARD PEREZ-PENA |
| The president expressed regret for sharing anti-Muslim videos originally posted by an ultranationalist fringe group in Britain, but he made no apology on Friday for calling African nations “shithole countries,” or some variant of that phrase. | The president expressed regret for sharing anti-Muslim videos originally posted by an ultranationalist fringe group in Britain, but he made no apology on Friday for calling African nations “shithole countries,” or some variant of that phrase. |
| Mr. Trump said that when he retweeted the videos, which portrayed Muslims as violent attackers, he knew nothing about Britain First, the group that had originally posted them. | Mr. Trump said that when he retweeted the videos, which portrayed Muslims as violent attackers, he knew nothing about Britain First, the group that had originally posted them. |
| “If you are telling me they’re horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologize, if you’d like me to do that,” Mr. Trump told Piers Morgan of the British broadcaster ITV, in an interview scheduled to air on Sunday. | “If you are telling me they’re horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologize, if you’d like me to do that,” Mr. Trump told Piers Morgan of the British broadcaster ITV, in an interview scheduled to air on Sunday. |
| The rare expression of repentance — one of Mr. Trump’s rules is “never apologize” — came as the president sought to patch up a badly strained relationship with Britain. Prime Minister Theresa May said at the time that it was “wrong” for Mr. Trump to promote the videos, at least one of which mischaracterized the episode it purported to show. The president canceled a planned trip to London amid expectations of widespread protests, but spoke on Thursday of rescheduling the trip. | |
| But Mr. Trump’s contrition and efforts at fence-mending went only so far, as he ignored reporters’ questions on Friday about his derogatory remarks about African countries this month. During a meeting with lawmakers, the president had said he thought the United States should accept more immigrants from countries like Norway, rather than Haiti or “shithole countries” in Africa, according to multiple reports. Mr. Trump has disputed the reports and some have suggested that he actually said “shithouse countries.” | But Mr. Trump’s contrition and efforts at fence-mending went only so far, as he ignored reporters’ questions on Friday about his derogatory remarks about African countries this month. During a meeting with lawmakers, the president had said he thought the United States should accept more immigrants from countries like Norway, rather than Haiti or “shithole countries” in Africa, according to multiple reports. Mr. Trump has disputed the reports and some have suggested that he actually said “shithouse countries.” |
| After the “shithole” remark was made public, Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda and chairman of the African Union, issued a statement demanding a retraction and “an apology to not only the Africans but to all people of African descent around the globe.” | After the “shithole” remark was made public, Paul Kagame, president of Rwanda and chairman of the African Union, issued a statement demanding a retraction and “an apology to not only the Africans but to all people of African descent around the globe.” |
| Mr. Trump and Mr. Kagame met on Friday, shortly before Mr. Trump’s scheduled address to the World Economic Forum. | Mr. Trump and Mr. Kagame met on Friday, shortly before Mr. Trump’s scheduled address to the World Economic Forum. |
| Mr. Kagame said that he had “good discussions” with Mr. Trump about the economy and trade, and he thanked Mr. Trump for his support. But the Rwandan leader made no mention of the furor over the comments. —PETER BAKER | Mr. Kagame said that he had “good discussions” with Mr. Trump about the economy and trade, and he thanked Mr. Trump for his support. But the Rwandan leader made no mention of the furor over the comments. —PETER BAKER |
| • The leaders of France, Germany and Italy all issued forceful speeches toward advancing European integration, while defending the notion of international cooperation. Collectively, they signaled that Europe — only a year ago dismissed as a crippled economic realm fraught with political recrimination — has regained force. — PETER S. GOODMAN | |
| • The header photograph on the Twitter page of President Alain Berset of Switzerland showed graffiti that said, in English, “Diversity is Power.” But Mr. Berset was quick to bat aside a question on Friday about whether the picture was a dig at Mr. Trump’s stance on immigration. Mr. Berset said that he had not thought when he chose the photograph “that Mr. Trump would be present in Davos this year.” —KEITH BRADSHER | |