Speaking a day before Donald Trump arrives at the annual gathering in the Swiss Alps, Macron did not mention the president by name, but joked about the heavy snowfall, saying it might lead some people to question climate change.

"Fortunately you didn't invite anybody sceptical of global warming this year," Macron said to WEF founder Klaus Schwab, on the stage with him.

(Reporting by Noah Barkin and Yara Bayoumy)