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President Donald Trump’s journey to Switzerland on Wednesday faced a slight delay due to an unexpected “minor electrical issue” on Air Force One. This complication necessitated a return to Washington about half an hour after takeoff to switch aircraft.
Opting for a smaller plane usually used for domestic flights, Trump eventually touched down in Zurich just after 12:30 p.m. local time, which was 6:30 a.m. EST. His trip aimed at attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he was scheduled to address attendees later that morning.
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(The Hill) — President Donald Trump touched down in Switzerland on Wednesday nearly two hours behind schedule after a “minor electrical issue” forced Air Force One to turn back to Washington around 30 minutes into the flight to switch planes.
Trump, flying on a smaller plane typically reserved for domestic travel, landed in Zurich shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time, or 6:30 a.m. EST. He was heading to the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he delivered remarks Wednesday morning.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the issue, joking to reporters on board that the controversial Qatari plane gifted to the U.S. was now sounding “much better.”
The president’s highly anticipated arrival overseas comes as tensions with European allies have escalated over Trump’s insistence on taking control of Greenland, the semiautonomous Danish territory in the Arctic. The president over the weekend announced new tariffs on Denmark and several other European allies over their resistance to his plans to acquire the island.
His Wednesday morning address was expected to focus on his “America First” and economic agenda, as well as his plans for the U.S. to dominate the Western Hemisphere, a White House official told reporters on the plane to Davos. Trump was also expected to talk about his effort to acquire Greenland and his future plans for Venezuela after the U.S. captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro.
The president, after his morning remarks, will meet with foreign leaders before participating in a reception with business leaders.
The White House official said he is expected to have about five separate meetings with individual leaders during the trip. The official would not disclose the leaders.
U.S. and European Union trade representatives met on the sidelines of the international forum on Wednesday, according to Maroš Šefčovič, the EU trade representative.
Trump will also address his economic agenda next week in Iowa and is expected to travel more domestically ahead of the 2026 midterms, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles told reporters before landing in Switzerland.
