'People in the room I can’t stand': Trump brags about making CEOs 'very rich'; quips at Tim Cook

US President Donald Trump bragged about making corporate leaders "rich" during his Davos speech, saying he was "jealous and upset" with a "couple of people in the room" who he "couldn't stand".

Trump said they have become "very rich," and there's nothing he could do about it.

“There are a lot of brilliant, genius people in this room, and you can put that genius to work. It’s an honor to do it. In a way, I’m jealous; in a way, I’m upset," Trump said to business executives during his speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

He further said: "There are a couple of people in the room I can’t stand. They’ve become very rich, and there’s nothing that I can do about it. I would scr** him if I could, but I can’t do it. I would if I had a chance.”

Spotting Apple CEO Tim Cook, Trump quipped, “He’s been good for 650,” referencing investment pledges. “Think of it. 650 billion dollars,” he said, drawing applause and laughter.

Between hard-edged geopolitics and polished economic pitches, Trump broke up the seriousness of his Davos outing with quips, barbs, and moments of unscripted humour that sat uneasily alongside the policy-heavy forum.

Addressing a reception of business leaders after a long series of meetings on Wednesday (local time), Trump opened by discarding prepared remarks.

“I have this beautiful speech,” he said, drawing laughter, before adding, “the last thing we want to do is waste our time and hear it again.”

Spotting "familiar faces" in the room, he joked about ticket demand and celebrity attendance. “When you have Johnny -- and I heard you -- I just got a report on the sales of tickets. It’s; there’s never been anything like it,” he said, prompting laughter from the audience.

Trump teased senior officials seated near him, describing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as “two exact opposites,” adding, “I like that,” as the room laughed.

He also ribbed corporate leaders over soaring valuations. “I go around, and I say -- meet the biggest people, biggest business people. I say, ‘Congratulations.’ They say, ‘On what?’ I said, ‘You’ve doubled your net worth since I’ve been president, right?’”