WEF Agenda Shifts: Trump’s Presidency Sparks Growth and New Deal Talks

The WEF 2025 is underway, drawing its usual mix of power players to the snowy peaks of Davos, Switzerland. But the vibe has shifted.

With Trump gearing up for round two in the Oval Office, the agenda’s pivoted hard to growth, with social and environmental discussions shoved to the back burner. Dealmaking, deregulation, and trade fears now dominate, the buzz reflecting both hope and unease about what his second term might unravel—or set in motion—for global business.

WEF Agenda 2025: Growth as the Dominant Agenda

The theme of “growth” is dominating conversations in Davos this year. Simon Freakley, CEO of consultancy AlixPartners, summed it up succinctly, saying, “Every CEO serves at the altar of growth and is thinking about how to drive growth in this environment.”

Business leaders are particularly energized by Trump’s promised executive orders, which include reversing red tape and accelerating U.S. energy production.

This year, Davos pulls in over 3,000 leaders from 130 countries. Heavyweights like Ursula von der Leyen, Olaf Scholz, and Argentina’s Javier Milei headline the crowd. Meanwhile, Trump, not one to miss a stage, plans to beam in via video to drop his take on economic policy later in the week.

WEF CEO claims Trump will join these globalist pieces of trash in the first week of his presidency for Davos '25

Remember the last time Trump spoke at the World Economic Forum with his best bud Klaus Schwab? pic.twitter.com/BongssX8Se

— Nightwatch N8 (@NightwatchN8) January 15, 2025

These moves have already fueled bullish sentiment in U.S. markets, with stock indices near all-time highs. A WEF survey echoes this sentiment, showing a reduced perception of risks related to economic downturns compared to last year.

China Becomes Another Big Talking Point at WEF

China is also taking center stage at WEF 2025, bathed in glowing endorsements and glazing for its “Intelligent Age” feats.

The narrative is clear—Beijing is presented as the model for green transitions, driven by tech advancements and renewable energy. Pushing toward carbon neutrality by 2060, bolstered by a 70% jump in research funding since 2018, China is wielding its tech know-how as a global export.

📖 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 / 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞 📖

🇨🇳 | China’s rise to global dominance is inevitable…

The United States knows this fully well, as they can do absolutely nothing to stop it.

🇨🇳 China Population: 1.4 Billion
🇺🇸 USA Population: 334 Million

China already has the largest… pic.twitter.com/mMYAtCEVan

— Iran Spectator (@IranSpec) December 31, 2024

China is receiving praise for reversing its depopulation crisis as well.

All President Xi Jinping had to do was reverse some women’s rights and threaten a tax on single women… but we’re not sure if the WEF wants you to know that.

Trade Tensions Loom Large

Beneath the gloss of optimism lies unease. Trump’s trade tariffs are the elephant in the room, spreading anxiety about their global economic fallout.

SAP’s Christian Klein summed it up, predicting Davos will be defined by geopolitical volatility. Organizers are bracing for it, packing the schedule with panels dissecting trade disruptions and patching cracks in supply chains.

Final Thoughts on WEF 2025

Despite the optimism, not everyone is on board with this year’s narrative. Critics argue that Davos is increasingly disconnected from the “real world.” A Silicon Valley executive remarked, “The inauguration and Trump’s policies outweigh anything being discussed here this week.”

Trump’s expected deregulation spree has reignited the fervor for growth and dealmaking, even as global trade risks loom large. Tension doesn’t dampen the undercurrent of hope, though.