Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman and top CEOs skip World Economic Forum in Davos for Trump’s inauguration

In a notable divergence from tradition, several billionaire business leaders, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI's Sam Altman, and Uber's Dara Khosrowshahi, have opted to attend Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington, D.C., on January 20 instead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The 47th president's swearing-in ceremony has overshadowed the elite summit in the Swiss Alps, which runs through January 24. 

According to insiders, this decision reflects a shift in priorities among U.S. business leaders, who see more immediate significance in aligning with political power at home than debating global issues abroad.

“It’s unfortunate timing for Davos,” one source noted. “If you’re a business leader, your time is better spent at the receptions meeting the people who will drive policy in the U.S., where you are talking about business and trade and ripple effects across the pond.”

Jason Calacanis, angel investor and co-host of the "All-In" podcast, echoed this sentiment, calling Davos “an irrelevant, elitist money grab” and stating, “Builders don’t waste time and money on virtue-signaling nonsense like that.”

Tech industry heavyweights, including Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, and Google’s Sundar Pichai, have shown their support for Trump by contributing $1 million each to his inaugural fund. 

The president-elect has raised a record-breaking $170 million for his inauguration—nearly three times the $62 million raised for Joe Biden’s ceremony.

Beyond monetary contributions, these companies are also hosting events around the inauguration to engage with Trump’s team. Sources highlight a Saturday night party hosted by Peter Thiel as the most significant tech gathering of the weekend.

Despite the shift in attendance, some Wall Street executives, a traditionally Democratic-leaning group, are sticking to Davos. 

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, rumored to have advised Trump on economic policy, is expected to remain in the Swiss resort town. However, some, like Goldman Sachs’ David Solomon, will make brief stops in Washington before heading to Davos.

The Davos forum, typically focused on global issues like climate change and indigenous perspectives, has shifted its agenda slightly to include technology and artificial intelligence. Last year, Greta Thunberg, a staple at the conference, was notably absent.

A source close to Trump summarized the shift: “The election showed the Davos way of thinking about the world is dead… There is a return to populism on trade, immigration, and economic and security policies.”

As some leaders, such as Argentina's President Javier Milei, attempt to balance attendance at both events, the contrast between these two worlds—one rooted in global collaboration, the other in domestic political realignment—has never been starker.