President Donald Trump is poised to make a significant return to the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, next week, leading the largest US delegation in the forum’s history. This announcement was made by the organizers on Tuesday. The Geneva-based think tank mentioned that Trump’s recent foreign policy actions, particularly concerning Venezuela and Greenland, have raised eyebrows among both allies and adversaries alike.
Accompanying the former president will be five Cabinet secretaries and a host of senior officials from various government departments. The gathering is scheduled to run from Monday until January 23, 2025, and will see participation from around 3,000 individuals across 130 countries, including 850 chief executives from top global companies.
According to Forum President Borge Brende, six leaders from the Group of Seven nations, including Trump, are expected to be present. Notable attendees will also include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, among other influential global figures. So far, 64 heads of state or government have confirmed their attendance, marking yet another record for the event, with the possibility of more leaders joining before the meeting starts.
China will be represented by Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is responsible for trade negotiations, as part of their delegation. Additionally, high-profile figures from various sectors are on the attendee list, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and tech leaders like Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang and Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella.
Members of Trump’s delegation are set to include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The team will also include Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
The World Economic Forum, which began its annual meetings in 1971, has been a venue for dialogue and negotiation among policymakers, CEOs, and thought leaders. While critics argue that the forum serves as a gathering spot for the world’s elite—often perceived as prioritizing business interests over broader societal concerns—it insists that its mission revolves around “improving the state of the world” and emphasizes the importance of contributions from advocacy groups, academics, and cultural leaders.
This year’s meeting will mark the first absence of Klaus Schwab, the forum’s founder who stepped down last year. Interim co-chairs Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock, and Andre Hoffmann, vice chairman of Roche Holdings, will lead the proceedings, signaling a new chapter in the World Economic Forum’s leadership.
As the world continues to navigate complex challenges, the Davos forum offers a platform for critical discussions that could lead to impactful solutions, fostering hope for collaborative efforts in addressing global issues.