WASHINGTON _ President-elect Donald Trump won't have a representative at the gathering of the world's economic elite next week in Davos, which is taking place just days before his inauguration.
"No one will be attending," Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement to Bloomberg.
A senior member of Trump's transition said the president-elect thought it would betray his populist-fueled movement to have a presence at the annual gathering in the Swiss Alps. The group of billionaires and political leaders represents the power structure that fueled the populist anger that helped Trump win the presidential election, according to the person, who asked for anonymity to discuss the matter.
During his campaign, Trump labeled his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, "a globalist" and portrayed himself as a champion for the working class fighting an unfair economic system.
While Trump and his administration will not be attending, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to become the first Chinese president to attend the forum, bringing with him a contingent of China's wealthiest executives. China is casting itself as an advocate of globalization, in contrast to Trump's "America First" platform that was critical of free-trade deals.
Xi will join 3,000 other attendees, who will include U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May, outgoing U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and South African President Jacob Zuma. The World Economic Forum wraps up on Jan. 20, the same day Trump is set to take the oath of office.
