Morning Briefing: Trump's big pitch

Highlights

U.S. President Donald Trump laid out his “America First” vision in a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos that was bereft of any vitriol towards the “global elite.” Trump became the first sitting U.S. President in 18 years to address the annual conclave of the rich and powerful at the Swiss ski resort, closing the summit with a speech in which he declared the United States “open for business”.

Jin Xing, China’s highest profile transgender person, was once an officer in the China’s People’s Army and among its leading male ballet dancers. The “Oprah of China” discussed her truly unique life with our Axel Threlfall.

France’s finance minister is in Davos and making no bones about his desire for Paris to become the center of Europe’s financial universe once Brexit disconnects London from the EU.

Social Media Recap

As the Forum drew to a close, social commentary turned reflective as attendees shared their main takeaways from the week.

 

I’ve heard full range of views this week on Donald Trump from international CEOs: total disdain to clear support for policies on tax, foreign aid, and North Korea (no one voiced support for immigration) #Davos18 trump #wef18 trump

4:57 AM - JAN 26, 2018

 

Currency war is last thing world needs - ECB's Coeure in Davos http://reut.rs/2BuY3lY @wef #WEF18 @ecb

10:42 AM - JAN 26, 2018

Top Davos stories on reuters.com

Davos' unlikely man: British socialist puts Alpine elite on notice

John McDonnell, the outspoken socialist who may someday run the British economy, has been telling Davos CEOs their brand of capitalism is “living on borrowed time.” Strangely, that hasn’t made him any less in demand here.

6 Min Read

Commentary: We’re asking the wrong question about self-driving cars

From Davos to Detroit, self-driving cars have come under fresh scrutiny this month. Automotive manufacturers, tech companies, and policy makers are grappling with new questions about risk and responsibility, writes Stephen M. Zoepf, the executive director of the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University. But, as we contemplate our driverless future, is the notion of “fault” beside the point?

10 min read

Top Davos Stories on Reuters TV

VERBATIM: Trump says 'America is open for business'

Trump threatens to withhold aid from Palestinians