Donald Trump threatens new tariffs on Europe as he woos international business leaders - including boss of state-owned Saudi oil company
- President Trump threatened new tariffs on Europe while also glad-handing business leaders during his first day in Davos, Switzerland
- During bilateral meetings, Trump said he expected that the U.S. would ink a deal with the European Union, though said auto tariffs were still on the table
- He later entertained a group of business leaders, which included the head of a Saudi oil company, amid criticism of being too cozy with Saudi Arabian leaders
President Trump threatened new tariffs on Europe while also wooing international business leaders during his first day at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
'We'll give that very strong consideration,' he told reporters of imposing new auto tariffs on Europe if the U.S. and the E.U. didn't come together for a deal. 'We expect to be able make a deal with Europe,' he also said.
Trump made the comments during a bilateral meeting with the President of Pakistan, one of the handful of meetings he had during his first day at the conference, which was taking place as his Senate impeachment trial kicked off back home.
President Trump (left) ended his first day in Davos by having a dinner with business leaders including FIFA President Gianni Infantino (right), who brought along a soccer ball
President Trump (left) hosted business leaders for a dinner Tuesday night, which was more light-hearted as he heard from FIFA head Gianni Infantino (right) about the joys of soccer
The dinner came after an afternoon of one-on-one meetings with leaders including with European Commission President Ursula von Der Leyen (left). President Trump (right) told reporters on Tuesday that European auto tariffs are still on the table
The president also entertained business leaders - including Amin Nasser, the president and chief executive officier of Saudi Arabia's Saudi Aramco.
Trump's continued tight relationship with the Saudis has been criticized after the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The fact that the president met with the head of an oil and gas company could also become fodder for the environmental activists who have dominated Davos.
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg spoke at the conference twice on Tuesday, while World Economic Forum head Klaus Schwab opened the event by giving a warning about global warming.
Trump said participants should reject 'the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse' when he took the stage.
Though he dedicated most of his speech to touting the United States' strong economy under his leadership, including that he inked two trade deals - one with China and one with Mexica and Canada - in one week.
When his afternoon of bilateral meetings began he continued to talk trade.
After a meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Davos, Trump said he had 'very good' talks but maintained that if a deal was not struck, Washington would strongly consider auto tariffs.
'If they're fair, we're not going to have a problem,' he told reporters later.
The White House has repeatedly delayed a decision on whether to impose tariffs, which could be as much as 25 percent, on car and car parts from Europe - using these threats as leverage in negotiations.
Trump also suggested he'd be able to get one done with the United Kingdom, post-Brexit, as well, complimenting Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
During his dinner with business leaders, Trump kept things light, fixating on the appearance by FIFA President Gianno Infantino.
Infantino had brought along a soccer ball 'just to remind everyone what the real priority is of life.'
The FIFA head then pitched soccer to the group.
'It gives joy and it gives hope to millions and millions of people all over the world. That's all we have to do,' Infantino said.
He also said that 'the U.S. is on the verge of becoming the soccer power of the world.'
'And President Trump has been in this venture since the beginning,' he continued.
Trump wanted North America - the U.S., Mexico and Canada to host the World Cup, which will happen in in 2026.
'President Trump is definitely a sports guy,' Infantino said, comparing Trump to world-class athletes adding, 'He is competitive ... he wants to win.'
Trump called America's turn to host the World Cup, 'very exciting.'
He then invited the room filled with business leaders to speak and 'promote what you want to promote.'
The president will spend Wednesday in Davos as well, as he meets one-on-one with several other world leaders as the Senate impeachment trial carries on.
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