Trump's sales pitch: 'US is open for business'

Donald Trump has insisted that “America First does not mean America alone”, as he made his sales pitch to global leaders in Davos.

The US President declared that America is “roaring back” and hailed his “successful” first year in office during the closing speech at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort.
As expected, Mr Trump delivered his “America First” message and outlined a willingness to sign “fair” trade deals and claimed the US is “open for business”.
But he also included an attack on the “nasty” and “fake” media, prompting jeers from the audience – although it was unclear if they were directed at the US President or the assembled press.
Sticking to the populist agenda that saw him elected to the White House, Mr Trump told international politicians they had an “obligation” to their countries’ workers and peoples – although his address was more restrained than his usual tub-thumping rallies.
On foreign policy, the ex-property tycoon stuck to hard-line messages on North Korea, Iran and Islamic State.
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Image: Donald Trump delivered his ‘America First’ message to global elites
As the first sitting US President to attend Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000, Mr Trump was afforded the honour of delivering the final address of the gathering in the Alpine town.
Offering his sales pitch to the 1,500-strong audience, Mr Trump said: “The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America.
“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.
“I believe in America. As President of the US, I will always put America First.
“Just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first. But America First does not mean America alone.”
Going on to highlight America’s stock market boom under his presidency, Mr Trump invited other nations to work together for economic growth.
“When the US 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 US has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and healthier lives.”

Video: In full: Donald Trump’s Davos speech

Mr Trump vowed to “restore integrity” to international trade, insisting he would only commit to “fair and reciprocal” trade on a bilateral and mutually beneficial basis.

“The US will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair trade practices,” he said.
“We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others.”
But the US President also hinted he could re-enter talks on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), an agreement he withdrew America from within his first few days in power, by saying “perhaps” the US could resume negotiations.
Having traded insults with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his first 12 months in the White House, Mr Trump vowed to “unite all civilised nations in our campaign of maximum pressure to de-nuke the Korean peninsula”.
He also called on international leaders to join him in confronting “Iran’s support for terrorists” and blocking the country’s “path to a nuclear weapon”.
Mr Trump added an international coalition was “very successfully” working to “destroy” the so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq.

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Repeating some of the messages from his election campaign, Mr Trump said: “When people are forgotten the world becomes fractured.
“Only by hearing and responding to the voices of the forgotten can we create a bright future that is truly shared by all.”
He told fellow leaders they had an “obligation” and a “duty of loyalty to the people, workers, customers, who made you who you are”.
After his set-piece address, Mr Trump took part in a question and answer session, during which he was asked what of his past experience had proved of most help in the White House.
“I’ve always been successful at making money,” he replied, adding that it wasn’t until he became a politician that he realised “how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be”.
Mr Trump met with Theresa May on the sidelines of the forum, promising a “tremendous” increase in trade between the UK and the US.
Prior to his speech, Mr Trump also talked with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is currently serving a one-year term as the head of the African Union.