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| Davos 2018: Analysis of Trump’s World Economic Forum Speech | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| • President Trump broke with precedent by delivering a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, saying that “America first is not America alone.” | • President Trump broke with precedent by delivering a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 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.” | • 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. | • The president said separately that he thought he could persuade hard-liners in his party to accept a proposed immigration compromise. |
| 1. Mr. Trump wants to be known as a businessman-president. His speech to one of the world’s most global meetings was almost entirely about how he is making the United States a more attractive place to invest. “America is open for business, and we are competitive once again,” he said. | 1. Mr. Trump wants to be known as a businessman-president. His speech to one of the world’s most global meetings was almost entirely about how he is making the United States a more attractive place to invest. “America is open for business, and we are competitive once again,” he said. |
| He also claimed to be the first American president who was a true businessman, who did not pass through the military or politics. | He also claimed to be the first American president who was a true businessman, who did not pass through the military or politics. |
| “Historically I guess there’s never really been a businessman or business person elected president,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s always been a general or a politician.” | “Historically I guess there’s never really been a businessman or business person elected president,” Mr. Trump said. “It’s always been a general or a politician.” |
| 2. The president made barely any mention of geopolitics, or major international issues like climate change. China was not noted at all. Nor were India, Iran nor even Europe. | |
| Mr. Trump did, however, soften some of his nationalist rhetoric. He said he would “always put America first, just as the leaders of other countries should put their countries first.” | Mr. Trump did, however, soften some of his nationalist rhetoric. He 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 continued. “When the United States grows, so does the world.” | “But America first does not mean America alone,” he continued. “When the United States grows, so does the world.” |
| 3. Mr. Trump predicted the recently passed tax cuts — including a corporate tax rate reduced to 21 percent from 35 percent — would result in billions of dollars in new investments and jobs. | 3. Mr. Trump predicted the recently passed tax cuts — including a corporate tax rate reduced to 21 percent from 35 percent — would result in billions of dollars in new investments and jobs. |
| The actual impact remains unclear. But the president claimed that several business leaders had made such promises to him in private meetings. | The actual impact remains unclear. But the president claimed that several business leaders had made such promises to him in private meetings. |
| 4. The president can stick to the script when he wants to. He read his entire speech carefully from a Teleprompter and did not go off message — a tendency that has gotten him into trouble in the past. | 4. The president can stick to the script when he wants to. He read his entire speech carefully from a Teleprompter and did not go off message — a tendency that has gotten him into trouble in the past. |
| Still, he could not resist a reference to “fake news” outlets in a brief question-and-answer session after his speech. | Still, he could not resist a reference to “fake news” outlets in a brief question-and-answer session after his speech. |
| “It wasn’t until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious, and how fake the press can be,” he 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,” he said. |
| 5. There is at least one new way for companies to curry favor with Mr. Trump: giving their workers payouts related to the tax cut. | 5. There is at least one new way for companies to curry favor with Mr. Trump: giving their workers payouts related to the tax cut. |
| “This is something we didn’t anticipate,” the president said. “It became like a big, beautiful waterfall.” | “This is something we didn’t anticipate,” the president said. “It became like a big, beautiful waterfall.” |
| Of note: One company he specifically mentioned was the telecommunications giant AT&T, which is locked in a legal battle to get approval of its merger with Time Warner. —REBECCA BLUMENSTEIN | Of note: One company he specifically mentioned was the telecommunications giant AT&T, which is locked in a legal battle to get approval of its merger with Time Warner. —REBECCA BLUMENSTEIN |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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.” | 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.” | 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.” | 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.” | 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 | 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. | • 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 | “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. | 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. | 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 |