African business leaders at Davos wish they could ignore Trump’s ‘dumb bigotry’

African leaders on the receiving end of President Donald Trump's "sh*thole" slur are preparing for awkward encounters during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"While many here are poised to recoil at Mr. Trump’s arrival — diplomats, heads of state and members of human rights organizations — much of the moneyed elite who pay the bills for many Davos festivities are willing to overlook what they portray as the American president’s rhetorical foibles in favor of focusing on the additional wealth he has delivered to their coffers," The New York Timesreported Wednesday.

Ignoring President Trump's "rhetorical foibles" is easier for the global moneyed elite than for leaders from Africa.

“As global leader, the United States has lost a lot of recognition, purely because of the current leadership,” said Joel Motsweng Baepi of the South African office of Old Mutual.

“His is just dumb bigotry. Unfortunately, it’s dumb bigotry you cannot ignore because it comes from the White House," he continued.

Those financially comfortable enough to ignore Trump's bigotry will define much of the attendance at Davos.

“They are now licking their lips,” said Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel laureate economist. “Davos Man has been able to overlook Trump’s ‘America First’ rhetoric, his anti-climate change action, his protectionism, nativism, racism, bigotry, narcissism, misogyny, for the lucre that seems to be the true motivating force behind Davos Man.”