Trump dissing Davos, won’t send rep

Donald Trump won’t send an official representative to the annual gathering of the world’s economic elite in Davos, taking place Jan. 17-20, just ahead of his inauguration, although one of the president-elect’s advisers is slated to attend.

Ex-Goldman Sachs President Gary Cohn, a regular attendee in the past, told the group he would skip 2017 after being named in December to head the National Economic Council, said people familiar with the conference. Other top Trump appointees will also pass up the forum.

A senior member of Trump’s transition team said the president-elect thought it would betray his populist-fueled movement to have a presence at the high-powered annual gathering in the Swiss Alps.

The gathering of millionaires, billionaires, political leaders and celebrities represents the power structure that fueled the populist anger that helped Trump win the election, said a person who asked for anonymity to discuss the matter.

Hedge fund manager Anthony Scaramucci will be in attendance, though. The founder of SkyBridge Capital and an early backer of Trump’s campaign, Scaramucci was named on Thursday as an assistant to the president.

Scaramucci, a regular at the forum, made plans before being selected for the White House team and is traveling in an unofficial capacity, said Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks.

The Davos schedule for Tuesday lists him on a panel that will cover “the priorities, challenges and opportunities for the incoming government of the United States,” and identifies him as an executive member of Trump’s transition team.

Scaramucci is expected to depart in time to attend Trump’s swearing-in on Friday.