President Donald Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, making his first major international appearance since returning to the White House earlier this week. Delivered virtually, his speech began streaming at 11 a.m. ET and featured a subsequent question-and-answer session with prominent business leaders. Participants included Blackstone chairman Steve Schwarzman, Bank of America chairman and CEO Brian Moynihan, Banco Santander executive chair Ana Botin, and Patrick Pouyanné, chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies.
Trump's appearance occurred shortly after his recent executive orders to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris climate agreement. His remarks were notable for their emphasis on energy independence and economic growth strategies.
"The United States has the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth, and we're going to use it," said Donald Trump.
He further elaborated on his vision for America’s economic future, highlighting how leveraging natural resources could position the United States as a global leader in multiple industries.
"Not only will this reduce the cost of virtually all goods and services, it will make the United States a manufacturing superpower, and the world capital of artificial intelligence and crypto," Trump asserted.
In addition to discussing energy, Trump addressed several controversial policy considerations. He has proposed imposing 25% tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada, with a potential 10% tariff on imports from China. Furthermore, he has demanded U.S. control over the Panama Canal and reiterated his interest in purchasing Greenland from Denmark.
Trump’s recent actions have sparked debate, particularly his directive for U.S. agencies to rescind decades of efforts aimed at workforce diversity. During his speech, he underscored a return to meritocracy as a guiding principle for the nation.
"America will once again become a merit-based country," Trump declared.
The World Economic Forum annually gathers global leaders from various sectors to discuss pressing economic issues. This year’s forum included remarks from Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, and Børge Brende, CEO of the organization, who were present for Trump's address.
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