The President of the United States, Donald Trump, landed this Wednesday in Zurich, Switzerland, more than two hours late due to a mechanical issue with his presidential aircraft.
The delegation was heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos when an electrical problem forced Air Force One to return to Joint Base Andrews, just outside Washington, only about 30 minutes after takeoff.
“The crew detected a minor electrical issue after takeoff and, as a precaution, the plane returned to the ground”, explained Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary.
The delegation boarded a replacement Boeing 757— a smaller aircraft typically used by the vice president and senior officials—and resumed their flight shortly after midnight.
The presidential plane finally landed in Zurich at dawn, after crossing the Atlantic with several hours of delay.
Upon arriving in the European country, the American delegation traveled by helicopter to Davos, where the World Economic Forum takes place.
Images shared on official accounts of the U.S. government showed the president warmly dressed, walking through the snowy Swiss landscape.
Despite the logistical setback, a spokesperson for the World Economic Forum confirmed that Trump will proceed with his speech as scheduled.
An arrival under the sign of geopolitical tension
Trump travels to Davos with the intention of promoting his economic message to world leaders, but his presence is overshadowed by increasing international tension.
His insistence on claiming the territory of Greenland, which belongs to Denmark - a key NATO ally - has generated significant discomfort in Europe.
During the days leading up to it, Trump threatened to impose a 10% tariff on eight countries of the Atlantic alliance, including the United Kingdom, if they did not agree to negotiate the cession of Arctic territory.
Rates could increase by up to 25% in June, a move that has alarmed the markets. The S&P 500 experienced its worst drop in three months, while the Nasdaq fell by 2.4% and the Dow Jones declined by 1.8%.
"It is clear that we are reaching a moment of instability, of imbalances, both from the perspective of security and defense, as well as from the economic perspective," warned French President Emmanuel Macron, without directly mentioning Trump, although his message was interpreted as a clear response.
Also, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, raised her tone: “The bloc's response if Trump moves forward with the tariffs will be inflexible, united, and proportional.”
He also recalled that the United States and the European Union signed a trade agreement last July, emphasizing that "when friends shake hands, it should mean something."
A speech at the summit of the elites... against the elites
The Davos stage—a ski resort in the Swiss Alps that gathers the global financial elite—seems, at first glance, ill-suited for the populist messages of the leader.
Nevertheless, Trump intends to use it as a platform to reinforce his image as a defender of the interests of the average American citizen in a key election year.
In his speech, Trump is expected to focus on the affordability crisis affecting millions of families in the U.S., with proposals aimed at alleviating the burden of housing and debt.
Key measures include a temporary ban on large institutional investors acquiring single-family homes, a cap of 10% on credit card interest rates for one year, and a directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion in mortgage bonds in order to lower rates.
“This will be an interesting trip. I have no idea what is going to happen, but they are well represented”, the president told the press before boarding his flight to Switzerland.
But experts warn that tensions with Europe could undermine their own economic pledges.
"Significantly undermining investor confidence in the long-term economy of the United States would likely raise interest rates and, consequently, make housing less affordable," warned Scott Lincicome from the Cato Institute.
A "Council of Peace" that divides the world
Another crucial point on the presidential agenda is the promotion of an initiative that Trump refers to as the "Peace Board," an alternative body to the United Nations that, he has said, would seek to oversee the end of the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
The presentation event is scheduled for Thursday in Davos.
However, the project has been met with skepticism. So far, only a handful of world leaders have accepted the invitation to join, including figures considered authoritarian and distant from democratic principles.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have declined to attend or have not committed.
The invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid the ongoing war with Ukraine has sparked intense criticism.
Despite this, Trump insists that the initiative does not aim to completely replace the UN. "I believe we should allow the UN to continue, because its potential is very great," he stated.
Trump has stated that "globalization has failed," and he will seek to reverse its effects in the West. His Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, summed it up harshly: "It's a failed policy."
Davos thus becomes a symbolic ground to gauge the pulse of a president attempting to project global leadership.
The air incident that marked his arrival in Switzerland only added drama to a trip that, by all indications, will be filled with confrontations, disruptive announcements, and statements that could reshape international relations in a pivotal year.
Filed under: