A White House official told the New York Times on Tuesday that President Donald Trump will attend the 48th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland later this month, making him the first sitting US president since the Clinton administration to attend the annual gathering of world leaders and captains of industry.
Referred to simply as "Davos", the event is a haven of privilege and wealth. In recent years, it has begun to attract celebrities like Bono and Matt Damon.
Sarah Sanders said Trump is excited to attend the forum in the Swiss Alps. The forum will be his fifth foreign trip as president.
"The President welcomes opportunities to advance his America First agenda with world leaders," Sanders said. "At this year's World Economic Forum, the President looks forward to promoting his policies to strengthen American businesses, American industries and American workers."
Last year, Trump avoided the conference - it unfolded during the same week as his inauguration - while its attendees were forced to confront the political realities of Trump’s upset victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton: Namely that widening wealth inequality was helping stoke the rise of populist movements in the US, Asia and Europe.
While the president might be looking forward to “advancing his America First agenda” - whatever that means - the event’s organizers don’t seem very receptive. The theme of this year’s event - "Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World" - takes an oblique swipe at Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Accords, the Trans-Pacific Partnership as well as his decision to reauthorize some sanctions against Iran.
There’s also the question of whether Trump will encounter his erstwhile rival. The Clintons are regular attendees. While Barack Obama avoided Davos during his time in office, it’s possible he might make an appearance now that he’s a private citizen.
As CNN pointed out, American administrations regularly send representatives to Davos, but presidents typically decline to attend. Aside from Clinton, Ronald Reagan spoke to the forum via satellite as president. But the Bushes and Obama avoided the gathering.
Though Vice Presidents Dick Cheney and Joe Biden both attended the forum while they were in office.
The forum runs from Jan. 23 through Jan. 26, ending just days before Trump’s State of the Union address, which is scheduled for Jan. 30. His attendance is also surprising because it will overlap with Nafta negotiations, which are set to take place between Jan. 23 and Jan. 28.
The event is a magnet for the world's richest people. With a personal fortune of just under $3 billion, Trump doesn't make Bloomberg's list of the 500 richest people.
According to the Wall Street Journal, last year’s attendees included Google co-founder Sergey Brin, British Prime Minister Theresa May and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Even former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci appeared in a panel at Davos last year.
At Davos, Trump will come face-to-face with many of the global elites that he attacked during his campaign. The event’s reputation as a bastion of elitist principles, like free trade, should make his attendance all the more interesting. But since the event is also a haven for world leaders, it could give Trump an opportunity to engage in some casual diplomacy as he seeks to rally support for his decision to move the US’s Israeli embassy to Jerusalem while also recruiting more countries to severe economic and political ties with North Korea and Iran.
Comments
A first at this forum- someone from our government who actually understands business.......
Not quite. Their business is fucking the serfs and they understand that quite well.
In reply to A first at this forum-… by jcaz
Fuck Davos!
Come to Marfa, June 1-3.
You better hurry and book! The most interesting and best accommodations go fast.
http://elcosmico.com/stay/shelter (Last year we filled all the trailers and teepees!)
http://www.marfasaintgeorge.com/
https://www.airbnb.com/
http://hotelpaisano.com/ (Last year we filled it up!)
https://www.thunderbirdmarfa.com/ (Last year we filled it up!)
http://www.riatainnmarfa.com/ (Last year we filled it up!)
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-05-12/there-are-many-fine-benefits-c…
Once again, there will be no charge for admission, no registration, and no badges. Anonymity still has its place in Marfa. Please donate to help cover the costs...
We're going to have a great time...again.*
*Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
In reply to Not quite. Their business is… by shizzledizzle
Dear ZH,
Please restore basic function to comment and quit make of so much change and stop wipe out old comment!
Sincerely,
Boris
In reply to … by hedgeless_horseman
"Trump to attend Davos..."
(And start taking a list of names...)
In reply to Dear ZH,… by Boris Alatovkrap
Will he get to rub "shoulders" with "luminaries" like Will.I.Am and code thieves like the Suckerborg? Are they into final "sustainability" plans, and paving the way for the Phoenix?
In reply to "Trump to attend Davos..."… by AllTimeWhys
Go figure, an oligarch
joining other oligarchs
to promote oligarchy
In reply to Will he get to "rub"… by peddling-fiction
Trump Trolls The Entire Fucking Planet.
I fucking love it. Those Davos commies are gonna shit themselves. In fact, I bet some of the already are.
In reply to Go figure, an oligarch… by Bes
So what if he only has three billion dollars. The Clintons and Obamas got vastly richer in office, maybe he'll have caught up by then.
In reply to Trump Trolls The Entire… by HopefulCynical
I see Trump was granted access by his Masters
In reply to Trump Trolls The Entire… by HopefulCynical
For once the Don will take his marching orders without having to fly out to Ersatz Isreal. Maybe he will save some fuel?
In reply to Trump Trolls The Entire… by HopefulCynical
Trump and me have something in common; I didn't make that list either.
In reply to For once the Don will take… by shitshitshit
"Eretz"
Not Ersatz
In reply to For once the Don will take… by shitshitshit
you seem to understand quite quickly when matters are explained to you in the most comprehensive, lengthy and extensive way possible, don't you?
In reply to "Eretz" Not Ersatz by MrPalladium
Hey Boris.
Is like government. Is change always. Is never improvement.
In reply to Dear ZH,… by Boris Alatovkrap
So the 'America First' President is going to party with the globalists. This should be interesting at least. Maybe he'll head a little further south afterwards and tell the Pope to fuck off while he's in that neck of the woods, too.
In reply to … by hedgeless_horseman
He is doing it to coordinate with the DACA amnesty. When you are not a sloppy person, everything must match.
In reply to So the 'America First'… by NoDebt
Marfa Marfa Marfa -- it's always about Marfa!
In reply to … by hedgeless_horseman
Go get 'em Mr. President.
In reply to … by hedgeless_horseman
Marfa, Texas...Daniel Plainview comes to mind.
In reply to … by hedgeless_horseman
Wonder if Trump will speak to the group and drink his water with simulated handcuffed hands???
In reply to Not quite. Their business is… by shizzledizzle
Can't wait.
Boris is check calendar and is very busy, so maybe this year is not attend. Beside, with so much rubbing of shoulder, is get tedious and is so boring.
(But spread of food is very tempting, Boris is come home with two full suitcase of caviar and creme brulée last year!)
In reply to Can't wait. by Fishthatlived
Thanks for hacking our election Boris!
In reply to Boris is check calendar and… by Boris Alatovkrap
You didn't splurge and get the €30 hotdog?
In reply to Boris is check calendar and… by Boris Alatovkrap
Obama likes the £30 hot dogs.
In reply to You didn't splurge and get… by Yukon Cornholius
And who wants to rub shoulders with a bunch of other fag men, oh wait, maybe that is why obama might be going this year as a "private citizen".
In reply to Boris is check calendar and… by Boris Alatovkrap
Did you miss the part where Trump is also attending?
In reply to And who wants to rub… by BeansMcGreens
Not so much attending as crashing.
In reply to Did you miss the part where… by Juggernaut x2
And give them hell and heartburn!!! LOL
"America First agenda" like that's really gonna go over well with that bunch of self-serving globalist pukes.
I think he's couting on it.
In reply to "America First agenda" like… by cougar_w
Oh yeah, I get that part. Another golden opportunity for The Donald to finger poke the Globalists in the eye for the benefit of his easily entertained base over-medicating themselves on opioids and high-fructose corn syrup in the Rust Belt US. Should help us all forget about whatever was the last retarded stunt he pulled, right? Like maybe dropping a tactical nuke on the Norks, still time for that before Davos if he gets on the move.
Looking for coherence or strategy anywhere inside the blast radius of Donald Trump is futile. Just enjoy the show. He never fails to deliver a performance.
In reply to I think he's couting on it. by NoDebt
I've never seen a cougar with sand in its vagina before. Or did someone try to shove a wet noodle up your ass in a phone booth?
In reply to Oh yeah, I get that part… by cougar_w
Not a woman, a cat. Trying to keep it simple for you. Been keeping it real around here for over six years, if it matters. Fuck if I know why I even bother. I guess it's entertaining on some level of collective stupidity.
In reply to I've never seen a cougar… by HopefulCynical
I am sure Vladimir Putin will also be there!
Vlad cant attend but heard he is sending a golden shower.
In reply to I am sure Vladimir Putin… by Mike Masr
"The President welcomes opportunities to advance his America First agenda with world leaders..."
This is new?
What do people think has been the agenda the last 70 years?
Go to a group of friends and tell them about your new, "Me First" campaign, and let us know how that goes over.
I have always wondered if changing "free trade" to "middle class gutting" or "breadwinner job exporting" would result in less usage of the term.
The point being, once the term "free trade" was accepted by the masses their future was pretty much decided.
He who controls the high ground, or the sound bites, wins the war.
US is very good at spinning the terms. Job exporting would be good too.
In reply to I have always wondered if… by taketheredpill
Reminds me of the term, "high yield bonds".
The marketing department got a bonus for getting rid of the terms "junk bonds" and "widow-making pieces of sh**"
In reply to I have always wondered if… by taketheredpill
Not content to merely surround himself with atrocious people here at home...now Trump flies all the way to Davos to expand his circle ever larger.
Gag me with a spoon.
Gladly. Do I get my choice of spoon to use? Or do you prefer something more elongated and flexible?
In reply to Not content to merely… by Pollygotacracker
America First! 😎👍🇺🇸
Fuck you globalists!
Sanders: "The President welcomes opportunities to advance his America First agenda with world leaders," Sanders said. "At this year's World Economic Forum, the President looks forward to promoting his policies to strengthen American businesses, American industries and American workers."
So basically, there's no reason for any world leader to negotiate with Trump. What's in it for them?
And yet US seeks to be the world leader. You can't be a leader without considering the welfare of the whole pack.
In reply to Sanders: "The President… by Verniercaliper
Are you all these people? Seems like you're having a conversation with yourself in hopes of persuading the weak minded here. This ain't FB, it's Fight Club. Fuck off, window licker, and all your little sock puppets.
Does OFA really think this simple-minded stupidity works?
In reply to Sanders: "The President… by Verniercaliper
Sure why not, He never misses an opportunity to embarrass himself and his county.
You're just mad, you can't grab or pull pussy like he can..
In reply to Sure why not, He never… by Rolln
I saw the Melania nude shots, quite nice.... wish I had dat.
In reply to Your just mad, you can't… by 1stepcloser
Pagination