Trump says ‘America is thriving’ at Davos, Switzerland, economic forum before impeachment trial
As the Senate prepared to open an impeachment trial against him, President Donald Trump ignored the topic and instead bragged about the economy Tuesday in a campaign-style speech to a global forum.
“America is thriving, America is flourishing, and, yes, America is winning again like never before,” Trump said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Afterward, the president declined to engage reporters about the impeachment trial. Asked if his legal team would seek a quick dismissal of the impeachment charges, Trump said, “That whole thing is a total hoax, so I’m sure it’s going to work out fine.”
Trump does not plan to watch the Senate trial while in Switzerland, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said: “He has a full day here in Davos, but will be briefed by staff periodically.”
Instead, Trump used his Davos speech to tout his presidency, proclaim that “the American dream is back” and play up statistics like the low unemployment rate, now at 3.5 percent. The president focused on what he called an “economic boom the likes of which the world has never seen before.”
Trump spoke hours before senators will take up the rules for the Senate impeachment trial. The House impeached Trump on Dec. 18 on two articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Democrats accuse Trump of pressuring Ukraine into investigating a domestic political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, while withholding aid from the country.
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The president’s schedule Tuesday at Davos featured a series of meetings, including the leaders of the European Commission, Switzerland and Pakistan. Trump also was scheduled to attend a reception hosted by the International Business Council and a dinner with corporate executives.
At a session with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said, “We’re going to talk about a good trade deal” with Europe.
In his speech, Trump said he has rescued the global economy from recession and saved historic black colleges and universities from bankruptcy. Both of those claims have been disputed by economists who cited a number of factors for the improved economy worldwide.
Critics said Trump’s economic policies are leaving too many people behind, particularly the poor and middle class.
“With his billionaire friends in Davos, Trump claims ‘America’s extraordinary prosperity,'” tweeted Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. “Meanwhile, income and wealth inequality explodes, half our people live paycheck to paycheck, and more than 500,000 are homeless. We need ‘extraordinary prosperity’ for workers, not the 1%.”
Touting his record, Trump cited tax cuts, regulation reductions, immigration changes, and new trade deals involving China, Canada and Mexico. At times, his rhetoric echoed his 2020 reelection campaign speeches, including attacks on “radical socialists” who threaten economic growth.
Trump also repeated his criticism of the U.S. Federal Reserve, saying it “has raised rates too fast and lowered rates too slow.”
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Marking its 50th anniversary, the World Economic Forum made climate change its major topic at this year’s meeting.
Trump, who has described climate change as a hoax, said little about the topic at his speech. He did express optimism about the environment as well as the economy and denounced “the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse.”
After his speech, Trump said he was trying to reach business leaders who might be interested in the United States.
“We had 200 of the biggest companies, plus numerous leaders of different countries,” Trump said. “Many of those people will be coming to make investments in a very large number.”
