Billionaires and $4M Chalets: Trump Davos Housing Affordability 2026 Push

It's a strange backdrop for a populist message. Donald Trump is marking his inauguration anniversary in Davos, Switzerland, a town where vacation chalets sell for $4.4 million. Surrounded by the global elite, the President plans to use his Wednesday address to convince voters back home that he's the man to fix America's housing crisis.

The Trump Davos Housing Affordability 2026 Strategy

The White House is pivoting toward kitchen-table issues as midterm elections loom. Trump's proposal includes buying $200 billion in mortgage debt to lower interest rates and banning large investment firms from snapped up single-family homes. However, critics argue these moves ignore the structural shortfall in home construction that keeps prices high.

Gilded Age Optics vs. Working Class Reality

While Trump campaigned as a champion of the working class, his first year back in office has been defined by his ties to the ultra-wealthy. His inner circle includes Elon Musk (worth $780 billion) and Nvidia's Jensen Huang. This 'wealthification' of politics is reflected in Federal Reserve data showing the top 0.1% have gained $11.98 trillion since 2017, dwarfing the gains of the bottom 50%.

Adding to the Davos drama is Trump's renewed interest in acquiring Greenland. The President noted that the resistance from European allies will make for a "very interesting Davos," even as his staff tries to keep the focus on domestic affordability issues where 60% of Americans believe he has hurt the economy.