US President Trump captured global attention at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, reigniting interest in the annual gathering of world leaders and business elites. Critics often question Davos’ relevance, calling it an elite echo chamber, but this year, all eyes were on Trump’s presence.
During his visit, Trump addressed attendees on key geopolitical issues, including discussions about Greenland. His speech drew long queues of listeners, laughter, and gasps as he combined humor with praise for influential figures in the room. Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics remarked that Davos had returned to its purpose: exchanging diverse perspectives and building bridges between nations.
In addition to Greenland talks, Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss Russia’s war in Ukraine. He also introduced his “Board of Peace” initiative, emphasizing diplomacy and conflict resolution. These meetings highlighted the forum’s unique ability to host both corporate networking and high-stakes political discussions.
The Trump administration used Davos to promote its “America First” agenda, contrasting with the WEF’s traditional pro-globalization approach. Officials argued that global economic policies had failed the West and the US, underlining the forum’s role as a stage for debate and critique.
WEF organizers acknowledged challenges following the departure of founder Klaus Schwab. Interim co-chair Larry Fink stated that the forum must regain global trust and suggested hosting future events in innovation hubs like Detroit or Dublin. Despite these changes, the presence of CEOs like Salesforce’s Marc Benioff, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang underlined Davos’ continued relevance in business and technology discussions.
In other news read more about: What is Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ and Which Countries are Part of it?
Overall, Trump’s participation helped the World Economic Forum regain media attention and sparked dialogue on global politics, economics, and diplomacy. Analysts suggest that his presence brought energy and visibility, reminding the world that Davos remains a key platform for high-level engagement.
