Davos: Question of Trump’s disinvitation irrelevant, says WEF MD ahead of the annual meeting
In an interview with Swiss daily newspaper 20 Minuten, WEF’s Swiss president, Alois Zwinggi, responded to remarks by Swiss Green Party President Lisa Mazzone urging organizers to prevent Trump’s participation, citing Washington’s recent intervention in Venezuela, which led to the capture of the South American country’s former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
In response, Zwinggi reiterated the forum’s commitment to providing a neutral platform for discussion and bringing together a wide range of perspectives.
The Director General made it clear that from this perspective “the question of cancellation of the invitation is irrelevant.”
During a phone interview with 20 Minuten, Zwinggi spoke about the upcoming event, noting that the forum aims to cover a broad range of global issues rather than addressing a single topic, while issues such as US tariffs are discussed.
He emphasized that discussions about artificial intelligence and sustainable prosperity will be at the center of the agenda, reflecting the forum’s “Spirit of Dialogue” theme.
Trump’s attendance at this year’s forum will mark his third return to Davos and will come as the White House prepares to lead a large US delegation to the event, including several Cabinet secretaries. Zwinggi noted that leaders from other major economies, including representatives from the G7 and G20 countries, will also be present, underscoring the high level of global participation despite past tensions around Trump’s policies.
The MD also suggested that the forum needed to include diverse voices to foster robust debate on the world’s most pressing issues, and Trump’s participation, like other leaders, reflected that ethos.
“People were thinking more about how they wanted to build the world of the future. But the world has changed since then and dialogue is absolutely crucial. WEF aims to provide a place where people who cannot or do not want to talk under other circumstances can talk to each other. This is our strength,” Zwinggi said, as quoted by 20 Minuten. he said.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) will hold its 56th Annual Meeting in Davos from January 19 to January 23, 2026, bringing together nearly 3,000 leaders from more than 130 countries at a time of increasing geopolitical tension, economic uncertainty and rapid technological transformation.
