Trump calls for more overseas investment in U.S. as
impeachment trial begins
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[January 21, 2020] By
Alexandra Alper and Alessandra Galloni
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Thousands of
miles from his Washington impeachment trial, President Donald Trump took
center stage at Davos to tout the success of the U.S. economy, while
criticizing the U.S. Federal Reserve on Tuesday.
Trump, marking his second meeting of global political and business
leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF), also told a packed auditorium
that trade deals struck this month with China and Mexico represented a
model for the 21st Century.
"The Fed raised rates too quickly and has lowered them too slowly,"
Trump said of the Federal Reserve, taking aim at the central bank's
policy decisions.
In a wide-ranging address pitched to appeal to the Davos crowd, touting
the achievements of his administration despite his unorthodox approach,
Trump picked up on some of the themes he voiced when he first addressed
the WEF two years ago.
He thanked overseas companies for investing in the United States and
said the U.S. was on far better economic standing than he had imagined
when he took office three years ago.
"The time for scepticism is over," Trump said as he invited more foreign
money.
"To every business looking for a place to succeed...there is no better
place than the U.S.," he added.
A TRILLION TREES
At a conference in which the main theme is the environment, and in which
climate activist Greta Thunberg is a star guest, Trump spoke about the
economic importance of oil and gas.
Thunberg was in the audience throughout Trump's speech. As she walked
out, flanked by security and chased by cameras, she did not speak to
reporters, but looked down.
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U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the 50th World
Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January
21, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Trump said the U.S. would join the one trillion tree initiative being launched
at the WEF annual meeting, but called activists "the heirs of yesterday’s
foolish fortune tellers".
"I'm a very big believer in the environment. I want the cleanest water and the
cleanest air," he added.
Nobel economist Joseph Stiglitz said the strongest thing about Trump's speech
was that it was scheduled between sessions on climate change. He criticized the
President's swipe at climate 'pessimists'.
"As if what we are seeing with our eyes are not there," Stiglitz said. "It's
astounding."
In Washington, the impeachment trial begins in earnest in the U.S. Senate after
the Republican president was formally charged by the Democratic-controlled House
of Representatives in December with "high crimes and misdemeanors".
Trump, who is expected to be acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate, says
he is innocent of the charges.
(Additional reporting by Anne Marie Roantree and Leela de Kretser; Editing by
Alexander Smith)
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