Trump turns salesman on Davos stage
DAVOS, Switzerland - The "America First" mindset, defended by US President Donald Trump in Davos, hung heavily on his speech at the World Economic Forum on Friday.
People had lined up amid tight security for up to two hours to get a seat before the speech started.
Before the president finally took the floor, there was a 10-minute performance by a marching band.
During his roughly 15-minute speech, Trump spent about 12 minutes extolling a prosperous and lucrative US economy that flourishes under his America First policy.
However, in the eyes of some US allies in Europe sitting in the speech room, Trump's America First policy is steadily drawing Uncle Sam back to the stronghold of protectionism, populism and nationalism.
Defending America First, Trump said: "I will always put America first ... and will always protect the interests of our country, our companies, and our workers."
Lackluster applause in the room laid bare the fact that the audience was not willing to buy his story. Disappointed by an increasingly inward-looking and self-centered Washington, Europeans are now more interested in making their own continent stronger.
Trump toned down his "America First" rhetoric at the end of his speech, when he came to topics of his country's global leadership.
"America first does not mean America alone," he said.
Kevin Sneader, chairman of global management consulting firm McKinsey's Asian offices, said: "Trump's commitment that America still intends to be a part of the global trading frameworks is important," as "there is clearly a concern that trading relationships that contribute to the world's prosperity are under threat".
Nevertheless, others were less optimistic.
Guillermo Romo, president of Mexico's Grupo Mega, said: "If the US really opens for business, it should be fair, not just putting borders."
Xinhua
(China Daily 01/29/2018 page12)
