Title: Swapping Chainsaws for Diversity at Davos
In the current times, topics like sustainability, diversity, and inclusion have held center stage at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. However, a shift seems to be happening by 2025, with preemptive compliance towards Trumpism becoming evident at the event. Ulrich Reitz, ntv's chief correspondent, witnessed this trend firsthand in Davos.
The WEF in Davos, for many years a stage for shaping the future, experienced a significant realignment this year. The overriding future that was sealed was none other than Trump's potential second term. As world leaders from over 130 countries settled into their hotel rooms, Washington celebrated the inauguration of the new US president. The well-prepared Davos agenda was rendered obsolete as a new dominant topic emerged.
On Thursday, Trump solidified this new focus with a video call to the conference hall. His offer of beneficial tax relief and energy prices for investors in the USA, coupled with favorable treatment for job creators and harsh penalties for those who reject his terms, resonated with many at the forum. The repeat of the "America First" policy was met with rapt attention by the global economic elite, who sat attentively, even applauding. Was this out of fear or reflexive politeness that they were witnessing?
The absence of Elon Musk, a Trump ally, was a topic of discussion for several days among the attendees. Rumors of Musk's presence in Davos circulated, but only his brother, Kimbal, was found in the city. As the co-founder of "The Kitchen," Kimbal is committed to promoting access to healthy food, which was not as interesting a topic for many Musk enthusiasts.
Embracing Trumpism
The attendance of Argentina's President Javier Milei further solidified the Trumpian zeitgeist at the WEF. Milei, who advocated for destroying "wokeism" with a chainsaw, was in line with the prevailing sentiments at the forum. The elimination of diversity, a recurring theme of recent years, was barely discussed at the WEF in 2025, with panels on women's empowerment, ESG criteria, and inclusion attracting little interest.
The discussion of artificial intelligence was the only topic that received more attention. The potential impact of AI on the future was a hot topic among companies and investors. The challenge lay in addressing the unresolved questions regarding ethical boundaries and rule-making. While Trump promised substantial financial investment to drive AI development in the USA, these pressing issues were set aside for another day.
In the end, the WEF in Davos missed an opportunity to address several crucial questions in 2025. The unofficial agenda was to adapt to Trump's return, with a focus on surviving rather than challenging his policies. The prevalence of bully politics was not countered, but instead, many chose to conform and adapt to the new environment.
On my way out of the congress center, I bumped into an Indian business leader at the cloakroom. Our conversation revolved around Trump and Europe. His conclusion: Europe considers itself more vital than it truly is in the eyes of the rest of the world. I could only offer a diplomatic "it's a matter of perspective," hoping that he was wrong.
The Indian business leader expressed his thoughts, stating that in the global perspective, Europe might perceived as less significant than it thinks itself to be. This conversation took place amidst the shifting focus towards a Trump-aligned agenda at the WEF in Davos, where diversity and inclusion were no longer the primary concerns, and a new dominant topic emerged.
In light of Trump's policies and the resonating "America First" mantra among the global economic elite, the United States of America became a central figure at the WEF in Davos, shaping the future discourse and agenda.
