Unlock the White Home Watch publication without cost
Your information to what Trump’s second time period means for Washington, enterprise and the world
Donald Trump agreed to attend Davos in January after organisers gave assurances that overtly “woke” matters wouldn’t characteristic prominently on the annual Alpine gathering, in response to individuals aware of the talks.
At a gathering within the autumn, Trump administration officers requested World Financial Discussion board officers to wash or pare again undesirable agenda themes as a situation of the US president’s participation, a number of individuals aware of the negotiations instructed the Monetary Occasions.
Washington introduced final week Trump would return to the Swiss occasion in individual for the primary time in six years. His final look was a digital deal with days after his inauguration in January, when he known as on the gathered enterprise elite to make their merchandise within the US or face tariffs.
Senior US officers requested Davos administration to tone down or keep away from discussions on areas together with feminine empowerment and variety, the inexperienced transition, local weather change and worldwide improvement finance as a situation of his participation, two of the individuals mentioned.
“The US side wanted to make sure Trump’s appearance at the elite, progressive event would still play well with his Maga base,” one of many individuals mentioned.
One of many individuals mentioned the WEF, which had already turn into extra pragmatic concerning the international geopolitical backdrop, was capable of supply such “reassurances” to Trump administration officers.
The Trump administration’s stress on WEF relating to these points echoed calls for made in different multilateral boards as the value for continued US participation, a 3rd individual mentioned.
Below Trump the US has withdrawn from the Paris Local weather Settlement and suspended giant swaths of American international assist — together with programmes linked to local weather change mitigation, girls’s and women’ well being and rights, and international improvement. He has additionally ordered an finish to federal authorities variety efforts.
“As President Trump remarked at the UN, the world would benefit from adopting America’s focus on economic security, secure borders, and peace through strength over woke ideology,” a White Home spokesperson mentioned in response to questions relating to negotiations with the WEF.
The WEF mentioned: “no government influences our editorial independence or the agenda of our meetings”, including: “We select meeting themes and topics based on global relevance.”
One other individual aware of the discussions described the talks as “routine” for officers representing the heads of state attending the invitation-only occasion.
“The WEF would never agree to any requests to shape or change the agenda, however it is normal that topics and discussions for stakeholders attending the summit would come up at such a meeting,” the individual mentioned.
The 2026 Davos assembly’s theme is “A Spirit of Dialogue”. Discussions shall be centred round 5 international challenges: co-operation in a contested world, unlocking new sources of progress, investing in individuals, deploying innovation responsibly and constructing prosperity “within planetary boundaries”.
In earlier years the discussion board has leaned extra closely into local weather and social-agenda themes. In 2019 pupil activist Greta Thunberg delivered a speech warning that “our house is on fire” and urged leaders to behave on the local weather disaster.
In 2020 the discussion board launched the “Great Reset” of capitalism, a post-pandemic initiative selling sustainability, inclusion and systemic change. The restoration plan impressed false rumours concerning the creation of a globalist, elite plot to dismantle capitalism.
WEF reported revenues of SFr469mn ($585mn) for the 12 months ending June 2025. It has diversified international sponsorship together with some huge US firms.
The WEF has been embroiled in turmoil for practically 18 months, triggered by whistleblower allegations that prompted two formal investigations into the organisation’s governance and the conduct of its founder, Klaus Schwab.
Schwab stepped down after greater than 5 a long time on the helm earlier this 12 months. The probes — which discovered no materials wrongdoing however cited minor irregularities — have continued to overshadow the establishment.
The WEF is now making an attempt to regular itself with new interim management. In August it named BlackRock boss Larry Fink and Roche vice-chair André Hoffmann as its new co-chairs and pledged tighter oversight.
The discussion board mentioned in October that registration for the occasion had already reached a document excessive. It expects to have greater than 60 heads of state and authorities attend in January, in addition to 300 authorities leaders and 1,600 representatives of companies and NGOs.
