President Donald Trump attacked Bank of America for failing to make loans to conservatives during a live-streamed speech to executives and elites in Davos, Switzerland.
The unexpected outburst came in an angry video appearance in which Trump promised to impose tariffs on countries that do not produce in the US and OPEC demanded lower oil prices.
During a question-and-answer session, the bank’s CEO Brian Moynihan asked Trump about how his executive orders would impact the push for economic and market growth.
Trump told Moynihan he was doing a “fantastic job” but then passed out.
The president said, “But I hope you’re going to open your bank to conservatives, because a lot of conservatives are complaining that the banks aren’t allowing them to do business inside the bank.”
He added: “They don’t take on conservative cases.”
Moynihan did not comment on the substance of the president’s attack, saying instead: “We look forward to sponsoring the World Cup,” one of several high-profile upcoming events in the US that Trump is touting.
Later, Bank of America spokesman Bill Halldin told DailyMail.com: “We serve more than 70 million customers. We welcome conservatives and have no political litmus test.”
Trump made his comments as he appeared virtually from Washington DC
He also appeared to attack Jamie Dimon, the head of JPMorgan Chase, America’s largest bank.
“And I don’t know if the regulators have mandated that because of Biden or what, but you and Jamie and everyone, I hope you’re going to open your banks to conservatives because what you’re doing is wrong,” he said. .
Trump’s swipe was a sudden departure from a round of friendly questions about his policies as his administration takes off and financial industry leaders adjust.
It came as a group of conservative Republican attorneys general alleged that Bank of America had “debanked” Christian groups and engaged in “discriminatory” behavior after rescinding the credit plans.
President Donald Trump delivers a special address remotely during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland
The bank complied with FBI and Treasury Department demands for consumer information after the January 6, 2021 riot, fearing further attacks.
Banks are required to provide suspicious activity reports on transactions they discover.
In addition, Bank of America has denied “debanking” a conservative, Memphis-based Christian group that promotes pro-life and anti-gay relationship values on its website and provides necessities to Ugandan orphans.
“Religious beliefs play no role in a decision to close an account,” the bank said in August 2023.
Trump on his first day granted sweeping pardons to 1,500 defendants on Jan. 6, including both non-violent offenders and those who struggled with police officers during the attack on the Capitol.
The conversation with the bank boss showed Trump’s determination to dominate business policy just as he tried to defend himself against other countries, again talking about absorbing Canada as a US state and threatening tough trade actions.
“You will have to pay a tariff – different amounts, but a tariff,” Trump told the gathering of heads of state and business giants in the Swiss Alps.
“My message to every company in the world is very simple: Come make your product in America and we will give you some of the lowest taxes of any country on earth… but if you don’t make your product in America, then it’s very simple: you will have to pay a tariff,” Trump threatened.
He then delivered a warm message and some requests to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who US intelligence believes was behind the murder of journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi.
MBS has said he wants to make major investments in the US totaling $600 billion, which Trump wants to boost.
“I will ask the Crown Prince – who is a fantastic guy – to round the figure to the nearest $1 trillion,” Trump said.
That came before he demanded OPEC pump more oil to drive down prices.
“You have to take it down,” Trump said.
“If the price were to fall, the war between Russia and Ukraine would end immediately,” Trump said.
Russia is relying on high oil prices to finance its war, although sanctions have hit its energy infrastructure.
Trump said he was surprised OPEC did not pump more oil during the US election.
“They should have done it a long time ago,” Trump said.

Trump delivered his speech remotely but said he would try to attend the conference in the future
Trump began his speech, delivered in monotone, by trashing his predecessor Joe Biden and the “disasters we inherited from a completely incompetent group of people.”
He boasted to the crowd about his election victory.
“We have begun America’s golden age,” Trump said. ‘The recent presidential election was won by millions of votes. It was a huge mandate from the American people,” he said.
“The entire planet will be more peaceful and prosperous,” Trump declared.
Four days into his term, Trump did not stop attacking Biden and the “chaos caused by the last administration’s failed policies.”
“President Biden completely lost control of what was happening in our country,” he said.
He also attacked the “stupidity” of allowing other countries to “take advantage” of the US