Trump Will Attend Davos with Top Economic and Energy Cabinet Officials

President Donald Trump will attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, from Jan. 19–23, 2026, and will be joined by senior members of his economic team, the White House says. The administration’s roster for the trip includes Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, positioning the United States to address finance, trade and energy issues at the annual gathering of global leaders, investors and corporate executives.

Scott Bessent, sworn in as the 79th U.S. Treasury Secretary on Jan. 28, 2025 after a 68–29 Senate confirmation vote the day before, brings a background in asset management and financial markets to Davos. His career includes serving as CEO and chief investment officer of Key Square Capital Management and as chief investment officer of Soros Fund Management. Treasury materials list standard departmental responsibilities: supporting a strong economy, fostering growth and job creation, managing government finances and protecting the financial system against economic threats.

Bessent’s past public positions on trade will inform his participation. He defended tariffs on Canada and Mexico with the remark, "access to cheap goods is not the essence of the American Dream," and was publicly associated with efforts to persuade the administration to pause so‑called Liberation Day tariffs on April 9, 2025. His presence at Davos is likely intended to articulate U.S. policy on trade tensions, sanctions and financial stability to international investors and counterpart governments.

Howard W. Lutnick is listed as Commerce Secretary on the administration’s Davos roster, though official White House materials present him as a nominee to serve in that role. Lutnick, a long-time Wall Street executive who led Cantor Fitzgerald and BGC Group and later served as executive chairman of Newmark, played a visible role in the 2024 campaign and transition, and drew industry backing ahead of his confirmation process. Supporters ranged across technology, energy and communications sectors, and a quoted backer in confirmation materials, Sen. Ted Cruz, called him "an excellent choice to lead the Department of Commerce." The mixed designations — nominee in administration materials and secretary on the trip list — mean public records should be consulted for his formal confirmation status before he is referred to definitively as secretary.

Less public biographical material is available for Energy Secretary Chris Wright in the information released about the Davos delegation. His inclusion, however, signals that energy markets and policy — including questions about supply, infrastructure and the transition to lower-carbon fuels — will be on the administration’s agenda in Davos.

The composition of the delegation underscores an emphasis on economic messaging and coordination at a forum often used to shape investor expectations and multilateral cooperation. It also raises transparency questions common to high-profile international summits: the content of private meetings, corporate access and any commitments or understandings formed outside formal sessions. With no detailed itinerary publicly available, scrutiny by journalists, congressional overseers and civic groups will be critical to ensure that U.S. engagement in Davos is conducted with accountability and clarity about potential policy outcomes.