Don to ‘ dominate’ Davos

■ US President to push his ‘ America First’ agenda

Washington, Jan 10: Donald Trump will take his populist message directly to the world’s business and financial elite later this month, becoming the first US President to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos in 20 years.

Mr Trump — who ran for President on a nationalist “America First” platform — will mingle at the annual Alpine festival of globalism in Switzerland, and perhaps offer a few views of his own, the White House said.

“The President welcomes opportunities to advance his America First agenda with world leaders,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said. “At this year’s World Economic Forum, the President looks forward to promoting his policies to strengthen American businesses, American industries and American workers.”

A string of US Presidents have avoided attending the annual upscale event, fearing a trip to a European ski resort would make them look out of touch. The last president to go was Bill Clinton, who attended in 2000. The gathering might seem antithetical to Trump’s brand of politics, but the White House insists his message will be the same surrounded by chalets as it would be in Washington.

Trump, a real estate mogul- turned- president, has rarely shied away from the rich and famous, but may have additional geopolitical incentive to attend.

Last year, the forum was dominated by the appearance of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Xi became the first Chinese leader to go, picking up the mantle of defender of free trade and globalization in the face of Trump’s protectionist rhetoric. “No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war,” Xi warned, fueling a sense of rapidly growing China stepping into a space.