Trump to attend Davos economic forum

by Jordan Fabian - 01/09/18 12:10 PM ET

President Trump plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, later this month, the White House announced Tuesday.

“The president welcomes opportunities to advance his America First agenda with world leaders,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

She added that Trump “looks forward to promoting his policies to strengthen American businesses, American industries, and American workers.”

The forum, which brings together powerful politicians and business leaders, is scheduled to run from Jan. 23 to 26.

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Trump, a billionaire businessman who won the presidency by running as an economic populist, would be one of only two U.S. presidents to ever attend the forum.

U.S. presidents typically do not attend the gathering in the ritzy Swiss Alps resort town, an effort to avoid being seen as too cozy with some of the world’s wealthiest individuals.

The only sitting president to appear in person at the Davos conference was Bill Clinton in 2000.

The U.S., however, typically sends a high-ranking delegation.

Vice President Joe Biden attended the forum on behalf of President Obama in 2017, just days before Trump’s inauguration.

Chinese President Xi Jinping made a splash at last year’s forum, delivering a speech that was seen as an effort to bolster Beijing’s desire to play a bigger role on the world stage.

Xi implicitly rebuked Trump’s campaign promises that the U.S. would get tougher on trade.

“No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war,” Xi said.

Tags Bill Clinton Davos Davos World Economic Forum Donald Trump Joe Biden