US President Donald Trump is set to return to the Swiss ski resort of Davos next week for the World Economic Forum, entering the global stage amid mounting international tensions while keeping his primary focus on domestic politics.
It will mark Trumpβs first appearance at the elite gathering in six years and comes as controversy continues to swirl around his renewed push to bring Greenland under US control β a move that has unsettled allies and reignited debate over the future of the transatlantic alliance.
World leaders attending the forum are expected to press Trump on a range of global issues, including tariffs, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, tensions with Iran, and Washingtonβs approach to Venezuela. However, officials say Trumpβs keynote address will largely be aimed at an audience back in the United States.
Despite repeated promises of ushering in a βgolden age,β the US president faces growing voter frustration over the rising cost of living. With crucial midterm elections scheduled for November, Trump is under pressure to demonstrate tangible economic progress at home.
A senior White House official said Trump will use the Davos platform to outline measures designed to reduce housing costs and promote his economic agenda, which the administration claims has positioned the United States as a global growth leader. Among the proposals expected is a plan allowing prospective homebuyers to tap into retirement savings for housing down payments.
Recent polling suggests economic concerns have become a key vulnerability for the president. Surveys show a majority of Americans remain dissatisfied with his economic performance, while even some supporters have expressed unease over what they see as an intense focus on foreign policy during his second term.
Still, Trumpβs presence in Davos is unlikely to escape global scrutiny. European leaders attending the summit include representatives of NATO allies recently threatened with US tariffs should they oppose Washingtonβs Greenland ambitions β a stance that has raised fresh doubts about Western unity.
Trade policy is also expected to feature prominently in Trumpβs remarks, with the White House indicating he will urge Europe to move away from what he describes as prolonged economic stagnation.
The ongoing war in Ukraine will remain another focal point. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope of securing further security guarantees from Washington, though US officials have said no bilateral meetings are currently scheduled at the forum.
Trump is also reportedly considering convening discussions linked to his newly announced βBoard of Peaceβ for postwar Gaza while in Davos, following the appointment of several high-profile figures to the initiative.
Questions surrounding Venezuelaβs political future and recent US actions in the region are likewise expected to draw attention, adding to the crowded geopolitical agenda surrounding Trumpβs visit.
While Davos has long been an awkward setting for the populist president β who has frequently criticized global elites β Trump has previously embraced the forum as a platform to project strength and confidence. Now back in power, he returns to the Alpine resort seeking to balance international influence with domestic political survival.
