Trump storms Davos

President Donald Trump landed on Thursday in Switzerland, where his outsized personality and determination to push an 'America First' agenda is already upending the annual Davos conference. 

To an extent, the annual confab of billionaires and CEOs was already centering around Trump even before Air Force One touched down in Zurich, then flew aboard Marine One to Davos in the Swiss Alps. 

The approximately 40-minute trip took Trump over a snowy countryside dotted with houses, frosted mountains and a glistening lake. 

As Trump got off the helicopter in Davos, he gestured to aides who held him by the arms as he walked across the snowy landing zone to his waiting car.

'We're very happy to be here,' Trump said as he arrived. 'The United States is doing very well, and will continue to do well and this will be a very exciting two days.'

He said he was bringing a message of 'peace and prosperity' to the gathering of world leaders, business executives and celebrities.

Trump waved to a bank of cameras when he arrived, before being immediately whisked away to the annual gathering of heads of state and business leaders where he had a one-on-one meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May. 

He then had a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where the two reaffirmed the historic decision by the United States to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Before the arrival of Trump it was German Chancellor Angela Merkel who got most of the press as she took on isolationism and protectionism in her remarks here Wednesday, while French President Emmanuel Macron took a dig at Trump over global warming. 

Trump's advisers have said that he will give a full-throated defense of his 'America First' policies in a Friday speech, at a time when the conference is wrapping up. 

The president was not accompanied by his wife Melania, who pulled out of the trip at short notice following allegations that he had an affair with a porn star.