The Trump Orbit at the Davos Summit

January 27th, 2025

Ty Tan

The meeting meant to be the most influential of the year, Davos, has yet again proved unique. Going into Davos, the World Economic Forum (WEF) released its Global Risks Report 2025, highlighting a declining optimism on the global stage in the face of geopolitical, environmental, societal, economic, and technological divides that fracture our entire globe. In a survey conducted by the WEF for their Global Risks Report 2025, state-based armed conflict topped the global risk landscape, at 23%. With this context, the Davos Summit was beset with a melancholy atmosphere at the beginning of discussions.

Starting on the day of Trump’s inauguration, the world’s leaders met to discuss the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.” Yet although the ostensible focus was emerging tech, the real meat of the discussion was led and directed by middle powers and the Global South, focusing their attention on one country and person: the United States and Donald Trump. A renewed approach saw nations seek a pragmatic approach to Trump in five different sectors: geopolitics, climate, economics, health, and technology.

Entering office with significant political capital, Donald Trump’s ability to shape US foreign policy had nearly 60 heads of state and government and 3,000 representatives from 130 countries waiting to hear what he had to say. Geopolitics focused on President Zelensky, who attended to convince Europe to continue their support for Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, which finally saw optimism after the recent Gaza ceasefire. However, many world leaders fear that Trump could destabilize this fragile geopolitical landscape, with his plans for ending conflicts from “Day 1” having widespread implications.

The climate crisis was never a top priority—so he promptly issued an executive order to loosen energy production in the US. In the face of Trump’s harsh actions, global leaders doubled down on their commitment to climate change, with prominent leaders like Ursula Von der Leyen and Simon Stiell, the United Nations climate chief, noting that the battle against climate change will continue with or without the U.S.

In the chaos of the Davos Summit, “tariffs” was the week’s buzzword. Trump’s tariff threats and rising public debt has put much of the world into fear. However, rising Global South nations sought connection in Trump, seeking common ground. Notably, South African President Cyril Ramphosa sought cooperative dialogue with the US on trade, a common theme for many Global South companies, who sought US/Western backers from the leaders gathered at Davos.

Experts at the summit pointed to the need for job reform, health, and inclusion to further improve a female socioeconomic standing compared to men. Seeking to invest in youth, Davos held key sessions relating to DEI, emphasizing creating diversity in the workplace, giving women access to jobs, and supporting our youth in the changes they strive to make. Yet, Trump’s move to support the wealth of tech billionaires in the U.S. seems to be rejecting such sentiments.

Lastly, technology inevitably came up in discussions at a conference aimed at discussing it. With the potential of agentic AI constantly coming up, the implications for AI in the government, private sector, and security remained a contentious issue. Key statements were made on AI, with Meta’s chief AI scientist, Yann LeCun, pointing out that a potential “new paradigm of AI architectures” could emerge, expanding current AI capabilities to new heights. At a time when the US continues to lead in the emerging AI race, challengers like China are emerging to shake the global AI order. Davos' emphasis on AI showcases just how much of a hot-button issue the topic will be over this next year.

"Under the Trump administration, there will be no better place on Earth to create jobs, build factories, or grow a company than right here in the good old USA," Trump said in his video address to Davos summit attendees. In a rapidly changing world, the Davos Summit was centered around Trump and his plans. So this year, Davos was once again, a unique summit. However, the world’s now stuck with Trump on their mind.