Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg and biz leaders choose Trump inauguration over World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

Billionaire business leaders seeking influence and recognition often gravitate toward the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, but this year, Donald Trump’s inauguration is taking center stage.

The Davos forum, which starts on January 20—the same day Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president—is losing attendance from prominent figures like Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, and Uber’s Dara Khosrowshahi. According to insiders, these leaders will instead head to Washington, D.C., for Trump’s inauguration events.

Sources close to the incoming administration suggest this shift highlights the growing significance of political developments in the U.S. and Trump’s policies for American businesses compared to the global discussions in Davos.

Priorities Shift to Washington

“It’s unfortunate timing for Davos,” a source remarked about the forum, which runs through January 24. “For business leaders, it’s more strategic to be at receptions in Washington, where they can engage with the policymakers shaping U.S. trade and business policies.”

One venture capitalist involved in shaping Trump’s tech agenda told NYNext, “For the first time in years, I don’t know anyone going to Davos.”

Davos, traditionally a gathering of global elites, including business leaders, lawmakers, and policymakers, is often criticized as an elitist platform with more talk than action. “Davos is an irrelevant, elitist money grab,” said angel investor and All-In podcast co-host Jason Calacanis. “Builders don’t waste time and money on virtue-signaling nonsense like that.”

Instead, CEOs see greater business potential in aligning with Trump, 78, during his inauguration.

Donations and Engagement Surge

Tech leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, have each donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. These contributions signal a pivot toward supporting Trump’s administration, even after years of tension between Silicon Valley and the Republican leader. Trump’s inaugural fund has raised a record $170 million, significantly surpassing Joe Biden’s $62 million.

In addition to their donations, companies like Amazon and Uber are hosting events around the inauguration to build relationships with Trump’s staff. Among these gatherings, tech insiders have identified Peter Thiel’s Saturday night party as particularly significant.

This divide in attendance reflects a broader trend: Silicon Valley is increasingly embracing Trump, while Wall Street remains relatively reserved.