US President Donald Trump will come face to face with top business leaders in Davos this week, as his policies draw starkly opposing reviews at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. The meeting is scheduled to follow a special address by Trump on Wednesday.
A handful of global CEOs from the finance, crypto and consulting space were asked to a reception in Trump’s honor. The invitations were described as coming from the White House, with attendance currently anticipated from both within the United States and other nations. The agenda of the meeting was not made public.
Trump is traveling to Davos with top US officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. His visit has already skewed much of the conversations at the forum, where many leaders have been preoccupied with recent US policy shifts. One of the most talked-about issues is Trump’s vocal desire for the U.S. to buy Greenland, something European officials have expressed worry about.
China, too, has a prominent role at the forum. Vice Premier He Lifeng is to lead the delegation, which will include a planned speech and an international company leaders’ meeting. Russia is dispatching a senior envoy as well, and he is expected to meet with some members of the US delegation.
Behind the scenes, national security advisors from various countries have been visiting one another, and now Greenland has joined their conversation. The issue took on urgency after Trump threatened higher tariffs against certain European countries, some of the European diplomats said.
Bessent called on European governments not to take the bait and respond with retaliation over trade, and dismissed much of what Trump says as rhetoric. Some business leaders in Davos said Trump’s rhetorical strategy may feel harsh, but is part of his negotiating tactics as he fights to protect US interests.
This year’s forum has more than 3,000 delegates from more than 130 countries and dozens of leaders worldwide are attending. Trump will be in Davos, so the US policy is likely to dominate discussions all week long.
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