Jan 11, 2018

Mnuchin defends Davos trip: not a "hangout for globalists"

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Photo: Nicholas Kamm / AFP via Getty Images.

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced Thursday that he will be leading the economic delegation for President Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He added that several Cabinet members will also be joining him.

Some critics have said Trump's attendance could be viewed as out of step with his message of "economic populism." Mnuchin defended his boss, stating that it isn't "a hangout for globalists" and that the U.S. will be there to push its America First agenda.

More from Mnuchin:

  • Cabinet's presence in Davos: Cabinet member have "no interest in going over there and rubbing elbows with anybody. ... This trip is all business."
  • He said the Treasury Department and IRS have released new withholding tables for employers, meaning workers and their families "will receive larger paychecks starting in February": "We're estimating that 90% of workers will see an increase in take-home pay."
  • Mnuchin thanked Walmart for its earlier announcement on wage increases, employee bonuses, and expanded benefits, citing GOP tax cuts. He did not mention that Walmart also announced it's closing 63 of its Sam's Club stores.
  • NAFTA: "We expect that will be re-negotiated, or we'll pull out."
  • Iran sanctions: "The president has been very clear that there are aspects of the Iran deal that need to be changed … we have as many sanctions on Iran today as we have on any other country."

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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 10 p.m. EST: 32,135,220 — Total deaths: 981,660 — Total recoveries: 22,149,441 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 10 p.m EST: 6,975,980 — Total deaths: 202,738 — Total recoveries: 2,710,183 — Total tests: 98,481,026 — Map.
  3. Politics: House Democrats prepare new $2.4 trillion coronavirus relief package.
  4. Health: Cases are surging again in 22 states — New York will conduct its own review of coronavirus vaccine.
  5. Business: America is closing out its strongest quarter of economic growth.
  6. Technology: 2020 tech solutions may be sapping our resolve to beat the pandemic.
  7. Sports: Pac-12 will play this fall despite ongoing pandemic — Here's what college basketball will look like this season.
  8. Science: Global coronavirus vaccine initiative launches without U.S. or China — During COVID-19 shutdown, a common sparrow changed its song.
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Why it matters: The conference's about-face follows a similar move by the Big Ten last week and comes as President Trump has publicly pressured sports to resume despite the ongoing pandemic. The Pac-12 will play a seven-game conference football season, according to ESPN.

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Global coronavirus vaccine initiative launches without U.S. or China

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A global initiative to ensure equitable distribution of coronavirus vaccines now includes most of the world — but not the U.S., China or Russia.

Why it matters: Assuming one or more vaccines ultimately gain approval, there will be a period of months or even years in which supply lags far behind global demand. The COVAX initiative is an attempt to ensure doses go where they're most needed, rather than simply to countries that can produce or buy them at scale.

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