World Leaders Converge at Davos WEF Amid Trump’s Global Influence and Economic Uncertainties

The World Economic Forum (WEF) opened in Davos, Switzerland, on January 19, 2026, under the theme “A Spirit of Dialogue,” attracting around 3,000 participants from 130 countries, including 65 heads of state and 850 corporate executives.

Traditionally focused on global integration, climate change, fair taxation, and social justice, this year’s event has notably de-emphasized topics like energy transitions and sustainability, shifting toward artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, and economic progress amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s dominant influence.

Trump, set to speak on Wednesday, has reshaped the forum’s tone with his anti-globalization stance, trade wars, and threats over Greenland, leading to widespread deference from attendees. WEF co-chair Larry Fink of BlackRock and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff have courted Trump, contributing to his projects and aligning with his policies, despite past advocacy for stakeholder capitalism. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is attending to discuss U.S.-Greenland tensions and potential EU deals, while other notables include Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Al Gore. Critics, including political economist Mark Blyth, decry the forum’s “death” as it accommodates Trump’s worldview, eroding its historical ideals of multilateralism. The event highlights a fractured global order, with discussions overshadowed by Trump’s attendance and policies.