Davos evacuated after Trump trade threat U-turn

On 21 January 2026 at 20:33 GMT+1, the World Economic Forum’s conference centre in Davos, Switzerland, was evacuated after firefighters rushed to the scene amid reports of an unusual scent that caused coughing. The evacuation followed a sudden U‑turn in Donald Trump’s trade threat, which had attracted global attention. Authorities declared the site “unsafe” but have not yet identified a fire or other cause. Approximately 5,000 attendees were cleared from the venue by noon local time, with emergency services operating in the vicinity. The incident remains under investigation as no official explanation has been released. The evacuation occurred roughly two hours after the Trump‑related announcement, raising concerns about security and public safety at the annual forum.