Trump’s arrival in Davos overshadows WEF

US President Donald Trump landed in Davos on Thursday morning for his two-day visit to the World Economic Forum (WEF), where he will deliver a speech on Friday. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)

The president took off from Andrews Air Force base outside of Washington, D.C. on Wednesday evening local time, unaccompanied by First Lady Melania Trump. 

“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!” the president tweeted shortly before taking a helicopter to the airport.

“We are going to WEF in Davos…to tell the world that America is open for business,” said Gary Cohn, Trump’s economic adviser, during a press conference regarding the president’s schedule on Tuesday.

Trump, who recently removed the United States from the Paris agreement on climate change, has also abandoned multilateral trade talks with the Pacific region and is threatening to leave the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He will have to convince an audience of businessmen and government officials of his message at a forum whose participants notoriously favour free trade and globalisation.

His attendance in Davos has been the subject of much debate, as well as protests by anti-capitalist groups, leftwing parties and trade unions.

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He is is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, as well as British Prime Minister Theresa May during his two-day visit.