Donald Trump will be “three hours late” to Davos following a chaotic departure from the Maryland air base on Tuesday evening, the US Treasury Secretary said. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF), Scott Bessent announced that the US president is running late after his plane suffered a “minor electrical fault” and was forced to turn back to the base. 

Mr Bessent also laid into Europe during his speech, questioning why its leaders don’t just “sit down, wait for President Trump to get here” and listen to his points. When asked what would happen if Switzerland distanced itself from the US and grew closer to the EU, he said it would be “very disappointing if Switzerland decided to get on the EU bandwagon”.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the crew of Air Force One identified “a minor electrical issue” and had to turn around.

A flight tracker showed the plane making a turn over the Atlantic Ocean near Montauk, New York, near the easternmost tip of Long Island, reports CNN.

Taking to his platform Truth Social ahead of his journey, Mr Trump said he will “well represent” America at the forum. He wrote: “America will be well represented in Davos — by me. GOD BLESS YOU ALL! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP.”

In a separate post, he announced an interview with Kate Pavlich of US news network NewsNation.

Russia Argentina, Belarus, Canada, Australia, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Jordan, Turkey, Israel, and India all confirmed that they received the invite, though most appear reluctant to make a public statement on the matter.

The charter states that the Board of Peace “is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict”.

It calls for a “more nimble and effective international peace-building body” in Gaza and “a coalition of willing States committed to practical cooperation and effective action”.