The US President has confirmed his participation in the WEF despite the Venezuela crisis. He wants to make progress in the Ukraine war. And Switzerland has a chance in the customs conflict.
January 9, 2026, 4:55 p.mJanuary 9, 2026, 4:55 p.m
Patrik Müller / ch media
Is he coming or not coming? When Donald Trump sent US special forces to arrest Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, everything suddenly seemed open again. CH Media reported exclusively on October 22, 2025that the US President has registered for the World Economic Forum. But the same sources signaled to our editorial team after the Maduro coup that Trump’s visit to Davos was at risk.
US President Donald Trump (right) and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio come to Davos.Image: keystone
On the night of January 5th to 6th (Swiss time), there was a long telephone conversation between Bern and the White House in Washington, as “Switzerland at the Weekend” learned. Trump’s participation in Davos was confirmed – of course with the usual caveat that there can always be major events.
Trump stays in Davos for two days
But according to reliable sources, the following is currently planned: Donald Trump will arrive in Davos on Wednesday, January 21st around midday. His appearance at the convention center is scheduled to take place at 2:45 p.m. The plan is for Trump to also take part in the WEF on January 22nd. It is not clear whether there will be a second appearance or whether he will hold discussions behind closed doors.
Steve Witkoff, Special Representative for Peace Operations.Image: keystone
The President does not come alone, but is accompanied by the most important ministers. His entourage is more high-profile than it was during his visits during his first term in office. The participation of:
- Marco Rubio, Secretary of State. The former Republican senator is currently Trump’s most important man, along with Vice President JD Vance. The Maduro arrest bears Rubio’s signature. During the Ukraine war, he was one of the US government’s advocates of a stance critical of Russia.
- Steve Witkoff, Special Representative for Peace Operations. He is a key figure in the negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. Unlike Rubio, the real estate investor Witkoff is said to have sympathy for Putin.
- Jared Kushner, son-in-law of Donald Trump. He is very popular with the president as an advisor after the success in the Gaza war (ceasefire). He has no official mandate for the Ukraine talks, but is supposed to develop concepts for the period after the war in Ukraine.
The fact that Trump is taking the Rubio/Witkoff/Kushner trio with him shows that he wants to make one step further on the Ukraine issue in Davos. According to reliable information, the participation of Volodimir Selensky, who is also traveling with a high-profile entourage, has now been confirmed.
Russian representatives are still not present in Davos. The boycott of the World Economic Forum, imposed in 2022 under WEF founder Klaus Schwab, also applies under the new leadership with co-presidents André Hoffmann and Larry Fink. Added to this are the US sanctions.
The two “customs warriors” are there
Two other Trump companions are particularly interesting for Switzerland: Finance Minister Scott Bessent and Trade Minister Howard Lutnick. They are the architects of the new US tariff policy. Early on, they envisaged a low tariff for Switzerland until Trump overruled them before August 1st and imposed an arbitrarily high rate of 39 percent on Switzerland. As is well known, after a Trump visit by Swiss entrepreneurs – with Rolexes and gold bars in their luggage – the rate was temporarily reduced to 15 percent. But Bessent and Lutnick are crucial when it comes to a formal agreement.
Trump visited Davos twice in his first term in office. Here in January 2020 shaking hands with Federal President Simonetta Sommaruga.Image: AP
Such a deal must be in place by March 31, otherwise there is a risk of much higher tariffs again. Switzerland has a double opportunity in Davos: Federal President and Economics Minister Guy Parmelin has the opportunity to introduce the Swiss perspective in a bilateral meeting with Trump; However, formal customs negotiations are not planned at this meeting. However, Switzerland will try to hold direct talks with Bessent and Lutnick. Bessent’s counterpart, Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter, and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis have registered for Davos.
Also in Davos, but not entrusted with the customs issue, are two other Federal Councilors: Defense Minister Martin Pfister and Energy Minister Albert Rösti. The official program will be announced next Tuesday. (aargauerzeitung.ch)