President Trump arrived on Marine One at Davos amid tight security as the heads of countries ranging from the UK to Zimbabwe waited to hear whether he would extend an olive branch to international partners or reassert his “America First” agenda. Others were still deciding whether to stay and listen to his speech or leave in protest.
Before setting off, Mr Trump tweeted: “Will soon be heading to Davos, Switzerland, to tell the world how great America is and is doing. Our economy is now booming and with all I am doing, will only get better ... Our country is finally WINNING again!”
He started his journey on Wednesday evening, taking off from Andrews Airforce Base in Maryland on Airforce One. A phalanx of helicopters landed at Zurich before the presidential plane. It was then on to the snowy Alpine resort of Davos by helicopter.
Mr Trump, who was travelling with ten members of his cabinet and White House officials, will deliver the closing keynote speech in Davos tomorrow. Several African leaders and business people are expected to boycott or event walk out of the event, in protest at his comment that many poor countries were “shitholes”.
The chief executive of Business Leadership Africa, Bonang Mohale, a Davos attendee, penned an open letter before the World Economic Forum meeting, urging people to turn their backs on the US president.
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“The overt racism of these statements is self-evident, and a stain on an office as august as yours,” he wrote. “Many of us will be boycotting your address to delegates at Davos in protest against your divisive comments and continued failure to unequivocally apologise. We encourage like-minded peers to do the same.” President Trump is set to meet President Kagame of Rwanda, in his role as incoming chairman of the African Union.
Lots of business leaders are to miss the US president’s speech because they will fly out of the Swiss sky resort before it takes place.
Some are leaving to keep plans before Mr Trump made a late decision to come to Davos; others to avoid the traffic snarl-ups and security lock-down that is expected to put the snow-laden town into gridlock. Others do not want to lend support to his policies, ranging from his protectionist rhetoric to comments that have offended parts of the world such as Africa.
A number of business figures are still deciding whether to change their plans and stay, and will make a decision based on the signals from the administration.
One senior banker said he expected Mr Trump to be “cantankerous”, appealing to supporters at home, and in preparation for a State of the Union address next week that could emphasise his domestic agenda of economic growth and protection of US jobs.
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There is a view in Davos that President Trump’s team wants as good a turn out for his speech as Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, received on Tuesday. Both mark the first visit by their country leaders in about 20 years and their speeches will book-end this year’s meeting. Mr Trump was never invited as a businessman.
Mr Modi used his remarks to warn against the “forces of protectionism” and in favour of global co-operation, in a likely intentional shot at Mr Trump’s speech.
Among the senior figures who are set to attend the president’s speech are Brian Moynihan, chief executive officer of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Mary Erdoes, chief executive of JP Morgan Asset Management.
Lloyd Blankfein, the Goldman Sachs boss, is unlikely to be therebecause he has commitments to see clients. Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan’s chief executive, also has other plans.
President Trump will also hold a small gathering mainly with European business leaders this evening. Among those attending is Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT.
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Another invited guest said: “An invitation has been received but I’m not sure I’ll go.It’s been organised at the last minute and it will be difficult.”