The Latest: Trump plans to meet with Macron at Davos

WASHINGTON – The Latest on President Donald Trump’s decision to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (all times local):

4:25 p.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump plans to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron (eh-mahn-yoo-EHL’ mah-KROHN’) along the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump spoke with Macron by phone Thursday. The White House says the two leaders discussed Macron’s recent trip to China and discussed efforts to pressure North Korea toward a path of denuclearization. The leaders also spoke about Iran.

Trump will be attending the annual influential gathering in Switzerland later this month.

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3:15 p.m.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (mih-NOO’-shin) is defending President Donald Trump’s decision to attend this year’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Mnuchin tells reporters that administration officials attending the gathering of many of the world’s most influential leaders will be promoting Trump’s “America First” agenda and ways to bring jobs and economic investment to the U.S.

Mnuchin says, “I don’t think it’s a hangout for globalists.” He’ll be leading the presidential delegation later this month.

Trump ran on a populist platform, criticizing global elites. But Mnuchin says attending is not contradictory to that mission.

He says he and other administration officials have no interest in “rubbing elbows” with the other attendees.

Mnuchin says, “This trip is all business.”