Davos attendees grade Trump's speech
Attendees at the World Economic Forum reacted to Donald Trump's speech, some noting -- and applauding -- the U.S. president's toned-down message. Others wondered about American leadership on global issues like climate change.
"If the numbers are true, I think he delivered on his 'America First' promise," said Fayez Husseini, an infrastructure executive from the Palestinian territories, referring to Trump's claims of a "prosperous America," which had the president reciting a litany of figures regarding increased wealth from U.S. stock-market gains and employment, among other things. "I'm not sure about the role within the global community," Husseini told CBS News.
- Norway's prime minister talks Trump, immigration and climate change
- Trump says America is "open for business" in address to World Economic Forum
- More coverage of Davos 2018
Husseini, for one, said it remains to be seen whether the U.S. treats its global trading partners fairly.
Another attendee pointed to the U.S. decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate accord as an indication that Trump was already on an isolationist course.
"America First, but not America alone," said Yadvinder Malhi, an environmental scientist from the United Kingdom, repeating the verbal olive branch of sorts offered by Trump in his address. "Yet in my area I work on the environment, and trying to tackle climate change and look at sustainability, America is alone."
"In some ways it wasn't as provocative as it could have been but inevitably disappointing," offered Malhi of Trump's address. "This is a symbol of how America has lost global leadership in critical issues, one of the most critical issues of the century," Malhi added.
While Trump's remarks were viewed as more diplomatic, his penchant for self-promotion was noted by another attendee, Ugandan peace activist Victor Ochen, who found the boasts humorous.
"President Trump is one person who takes credit a lot -- he was pointing at himself, which I thought was funny," said Ochen, who offered a different view of a leader's role. "You are the head of state and you are working for everybody. So the nation takes credit -- not the president."
On a more serious note, Ochen said Trump's recent vulgar and disparaging comments about Haiti, El Salvador and African nations "legitimizes the suspicion with which African people always felt that the international communities, the Western world, doesn't like them."
