The Latest: Trump says Mnuchin comment taken out of context

President Donald Trump listens during a dinner with European business leaders at the World Economic Forum, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Davos. From left, Trump, President and CEO of Seimens Joe Kaeser, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump listens during a dinner with European business leaders at the World Economic Forum, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Davos. From left, Trump, President and CEO of Seimens Joe Kaeser, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s attendance at the World Economic Forum (all times local):

8:57 p.m.

President Donald Trump says his Treasury Secretary’s comments favoring a weaker dollar were taken out of context.

Steven Mnuchin said this week at a global summit in Davos, Switzerland that “obviously a weaker dollar is good for us as it relates to trade and opportunities.” Those remarks broke with a twenty-year U.S. policy of speaking in favor of a strong dollar.

Trump told CNBC in an interview that the dollar should “be based on the strength of the country.”

He says, “ultimately I want to see a strong dollar.”

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7:53 p.m.

President Donald Trump is sitting down with European business leaders in Davos, Switzerland.

His dinner guests include leaders from Adidas, Siemens, Nestle, Deloitte, and other companies.

Several of the CEOs are congratulating Trump on the tax cuts he signed into law last year. They say it’s encouraging them to invest in the U.S.

Trump is also congratulating the CEOs on their success.

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7:23 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he would consider re-entering the Trans-Pacific Partnership if he can secure a “substantially better deal” for the U.S.

Trump tells CNBC in an interview in Davos, Switzerland that he “would do TPP, if we made a much better deal than we had.” He says, “We had a horrible deal.”

Trump directed the U.S. trade representative to withdraw from the sweeping agreement involving the U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim nations shortly after taking office. He said he would pursue individual deals with the other countries.

Trump is also trying to re-negotiate the three-way NAFTA trade deal with Canada and Mexico. He says he’ll pull out of that if the U.S. can’t secure better terms.

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7:01 p.m.

President Donald Trump says his visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is already “very successful.”

He told reporters on his way between meetings that “we are seeing tremendous investment and today has been a very exciting day, a very great day and great for our country.”

Trump is the first U.S. president to come to the forum in Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000. He met Thursday with the leaders of Britain and Israel, Theresa May and Benjamin Netanyahu, and was due to give a speech to the forum on Friday.

Later on Thursday he was due to hold a reception with CEOs and other global executives.

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6 p.m.

Melania Trump has visited the U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum while President Donald Trump attends an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland.

That’s according to a spokeswoman for the U.S. first lady, who tweeted Thursday that Mrs. Trump toured the memorial near the National Mall in Washington. A statement later said Mrs. Trump was honoring International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday. She was paying respect to 6 million Jews lost in the Holocaust and millions of other victims of the Nazis.

Mrs. Trump said in a statement to the victims and their families that “My heart is with you, and we remember.”

The news media was not given prior notice of the visit.

The first lady had been scheduled to accompany Trump to the World Economic Forum. But Grisham said earlier this week that the first lady would no longer make the trip due to “scheduling and logistical issues.”

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4:15 p.m.

President Donald Trump says the Palestinians must return to peace talks with Israel to receive U.S. aid money.

Trump’s decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital roiled Arab nations and led Palestinians to refuse to meet with Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to the Mideast this week. Palestinians also declared a new U.S.-led peace push dead, saying Washington can no longer be an honest broker.

Trump says U.S. aid to the Palestinians is “on the table” but they won’t get it “unless they sit down and negotiate peace.”

Trump commented as he opened a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an economic summit in Davos, Switzerland.

Netanyahu praised Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.

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3:30 p.m.

President Donald Trump is trying to dispel the notion that he and British Prime Minister Theresa May don’t get along.

Trump says he and May have a “really great relationship, although some people don’t necessarily believe that.” He said it was a “false rumor” and that he wanted to “correct it.”

Trump and May met Thursday during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

May said the “special relationship” between the U.S. and the U.K. continues.

Trump and May last year traded criticism over Trump’s retweets of a far-right group’s anti-Muslim videos.

Trump also canceled a trip to London for the opening of a new U.S. Embassy.

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3 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he’s bringing a message of “peace and prosperity” to an annual economic summit in the Swiss Alps.

Trump arrived in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday for his first appearance at the World Economic Forum.

As he arrived at the summit venue, Trump was asked how he likes Davos and replied that he thinks “it’s great.”

Asked about his message for the gathering of world leaders, business executives and celebrities, Trump said it’s about “peace and prosperity.”

Trump’s attendance at the annual gathering for free-trade-loving political and business elites has raised eyebrows, given Trump’s protectionist leanings.

He is the first sitting U.S. president to attend the forum since Bill Clinton in 2000.

2:54 p.m.

President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May are meeting during a summit in Switzerland.

The leaders met Thursday during the World Economic Forum in Davos and were expected to discuss the conflict in Syria, U.S. efforts to revise the Iran nuclear deal and North Korea’s nuclear threat.

Trump hosted May at the White House days after he took office in January 2017, but the relationship has been strained since then.

Trump recently canceled a trip to London for the opening of a new U.S. Embassy. Trump and May last year traded criticism over Trump’s retweets of a far-right group’s anti-Muslim videos.

Earlier Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (mih-NOO’-shin) said the U.S. stands ready to negotiate an “attractive” trade deal with Britain once it leaves the European Union.

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11:30 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in the Swiss Alps to attend the World Economic Forum.

Trump flew to the town of Davos by helicopter from Zurich, where he arrived Thursday morning after flying overnight from Washington.

The president is scheduled Thursday to hold talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while the summit takes place. He’s also scheduled to meet with the forum’s founder, attend a reception and eat dinner with European business leaders.

Trump is the first sitting president to attend the annual summit since Bill Clinton in 2000.

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10:25 a.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in Switzerland to tout his “America First” policies at the World Economic Forum.

Trump landed in Switzerland Thursday morning. He is expected to meet with world leaders, attend a reception, host a dinner for European business executives and give a keynote address Friday.

Trump comes to the globally minded conference days after signing new tariffs to boost American manufacturers. He is expected to tout the booming economy and recent tax cut legislation.

Trump’s is the first visit by a sitting president to summit in Davos since Bill Clinton appeared in 2000.

His decision to attend was a surprise, given his protectionist policies. Trump has withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement and demanded changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

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6:30 a.m.

President Donald Trump has a simple message for the world’s economic leaders: America is open for business.

Trump is also ready to argue that global cooperation can be part of his “America First” agenda. It’s a pitch he’s preparing to make at the World Economic Forum when he arrives Thursday in Davos, Switzerland.

The annual gathering at Davos attracts free-trade-loving political and business elites, who might be surprised that the protectionist-leaning American president will be in their midst. Trump told reporters as he prepared for the trip that he’s going to push for investment in the U.S., touting a booming economy.

In Davos ahead of Trump’s arrival, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said America supports free trade and said Trump is looking out for U.S. interests and its workers.