Much to everyone's surprise, President Trump is slated to attend the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland.

"The president welcomes opportunities to advance his America First agenda with world leaders," said Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary. "At this year's World Economic Forum, the president looks forward to promoting his policies to strengthen American businesses, American industries and American workers."

Typically, the forum is attended by individuals of extreme wealth and prestige. It is uncommon for public servants to attend the World Economic Forum, as attendance might be misconstrued as favoring the world's richest people over the common voter. Ronald Reagan spoke to the forum via satellite as president, and Bill Clinton was the first to attend the summit in person when he traveled to Switzerland in 2000. Presidents George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama never attended the meeting.

Indeed, many of the very same international elites, corporate influencers, and lobbyists that Trump had promised to "drain from the swamp" in his 2016 campaign will be present at the forum.

Trump's attendance at this cosmopolitan event is particularly surprising given his particular brand of American nationalism and isolationism, which has curried his favor amongst the white working class. Trump has called himself a champion of such voters, who he says have been overlooked or ridiculed by the elite, and has promised that they would "never be ignored again."

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It may be that Trump's personal business interests may be taking precedent over his presidential role. Still, it is undeniable that the World Economic Forum will be another venue where Trump can brag about recent American economic improvements, including a shrinking unemployment rate and stock market gains. Trump has not been shy about taking personal credit for this upswing, though the truth may be more complex.

And it is not uncommon for global leaders to grace the forum with their presence. Last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the event, which began just days before Trump's inauguration, becoming the first Chinese leader to mingle with the corporate and media crowd. The forum could therefore also serve as a prime place to discuss bilateral relations in a more casual context conducive to positive relationships.

In fact, last year itself, Mr. Xi urged the incoming Trump to keep an open mind regarding trade at the forum: "Pursuing protectionism is like locking oneself in a dark room," he said in Davos last year. "While wind and rain may be kept outside, that dark room will also block light and air. No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war."

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The World Economic Forum takes place from January 23rd to 26th. Officials do not know what dates to expect the president to attend, as the White House did not explicitly state when Trump would travel there, or whether this was just one of many more stops to come on a trip abroad.

The event is just a few days before Trump delivers his first State of the Union address on January 30th, leading some to wonder if he will he be able to sustain his focus.