President Trump heads to the World Economic Forum amid global crises, but his speech will target domestic voters by announcing new measures to tackle America’s housing affordability crisis.
DAVOS: Donald Trump returns to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week amid a spiralling global crisis over his quest to acquire Greenland.
His first appearance at the elite gathering in six years comes after a year of shocks on tariffs, Venezuela, Ukraine, Gaza and Iran.
Yet the Republican president’s keynote speech will largely be aimed at voters back in the United States.
A White House official told AFP that Trump would “unveil initiatives to drive down housing costs” and “tout his economic agenda that has propelled the United States to lead the world in economic growth.”
The 79-year-old is expected to announce plans allowing prospective homebuyers to use retirement funds for down payments.
This focus comes as a CNN poll found 58% of Americans believe his first year back in the White House has been a failure, particularly on the economy.
Trump’s supporters are also uneasy about his relentless focus on foreign policy since returning to office.
Nevertheless, global issues will dominate his discussions with fellow leaders in the Swiss Alps.
Trump will be alongside European NATO allies he has threatened with tariffs if they do not back his bid to take control of Greenland from Denmark.
The White House official said Trump will “emphasize that the United States and Europe must leave behind economic stagnation and the policies that caused it.”
The Ukraine war will also be on the agenda, with President Volodymyr Zelensky hoping for a meeting to sign new security guarantees.
However, the White House told AFP that “no bilateral meetings have been scheduled for Davos at this time.”
Trump is also reportedly considering convening the first meeting of his “Board of Peace” for Gaza at the forum.
Questions remain about Venezuela following the US operation to topple leader Nicolas Maduro.
Trump’s relationship with the globalist Davos forum has always been complex, given his populist brand.
He relishes the company of the rich and successful, yet his 2018 appearance met occasional boos.
He made a forceful return in 2020, dismissing “prophets of doom” on climate and the economy.
Now he returns as a more powerful president than ever, navigating domestic pressures and a global storm of his own making.
