World Economic Forum Braces for Donald Trump’s Return to Davos
US President Donald Trump will attend the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) gathering in Davos, Switzerland this week as he continues to challenge the established global order with a series of geopolitical victories and the promise of more to come.
Since returning to the White House, the president has withdrawn from numerous unnecessary and irresponsible international organizations, including the UN climate treaty, captured Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro following an attack on the capital Caracas and is now seeking to annex Greenland.
He also challenged NATO members to step up and start paying for their expenses without relying too heavily on American taxpayer dollars.
Trump will be joined this year by more than 60 heads of state and government at the snowy conference of economic and cultural elites.
They include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Argentine President Javier Milei, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Chinese Deputy Prime Minister He Lifeng, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa.
DW reports that Trump is leading the largest-ever U.S. delegation to Davos, made up of five cabinet secretaries and other senior officials.
Final preparations are underway in Davos as the city prepares to welcome guests of the World Economic Forum on January 17, 2026 in Switzerland. The annual meeting brings together leaders from government, business and civil society to discuss major global issues. (Elena Romanova/Getty)
The delegation includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, setting the stage for high-profile discussions on Ukraine, Venezuela, Gaza and Iran, where eyewitnesses have reported a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests, DW notes before continuing:
Trump is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and kyiv’s G7 allies – including the leaders of Germany, Italy, France, the UK, Canada and the president of the European Commission – on the sidelines of the main event aimed at seeking US support to ensure Ukraine’s security after a possible peace deal with Russia, the Financial Times reported.
The strong American presence would be complemented by the first-ever “USA House” – a venue set up in a small church on the city’s main Promenade Street, where American officials will host events and network with investors.
Added to the list is California Governor Gavin Newsom, a determined Trump foe who is expected to speak a day after the president’s speech.
“Trump’s economic agenda betrays our nation: it is not ‘America First’ but ‘Trump First’ – rewarding the favored, punishing the dissidents, and damning the rest,” Newsom said in a statement reported by Politico.
“At the World Economic Forum, I will fight forcefully against these abuses and resolutely defend the principles that give California economic strength: disciplined governance, leading universities, limitless innovation, and openness to global cultures.
This year’s meeting would be the first without WEF founder Klaus Schwab at the helm following his resignation last year.
Schwab was replaced by interim co-chairs Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, and Andre Hoffmann, vice chairman of Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche Holdings.
President Trump will appear in person on Wednesday after delivering his speech last year remotely via video feed.
Follow Simon Kent on Twitter: Follow @SunSimonKent or by email to: skent@breitbart.com
