Former Secretary of State John Kerry drew laughs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday when he joked that his one message to President Trump would be to step down from office.

"Resign," Kerry said during a CNBC panel when pressed about what he would tell Trump should he be given the opportunity.



What would John Kerry say to Trump if they were sitting across from each other? "Resign." https://t.co/jKtRgh4Vm8 pic.twitter.com/NXbMzQ5gfx — CNBC (@CNBC) January 22, 2019



The longtime Massachusetts senator and 2004 Democratic presidential nominee initially balked at the question.

"I can't play that," Kerry said. "I would ... But I know that, you see, because he doesn't take any of this seriously. He doesn't have an ability to have that kind of conversation."

The White House announced in December that Trump would accompany a U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to the government and business leader summit. The administration, however, pulled out of the trip this month because of the ongoing partial federal shutdown. The decision was made public on the same day the president revoked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., access to government or military aircraft ahead of a secret visit to meet U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Trump tweeted Tuesday that he would have been criticized over Davos whether or not he had attended the event.

"Last time I went to Davos, the Fake News said I should not go there. This year, because of the Shutdown, I decided not to go, and the Fake News said I should be there. The fact is that the people understand the media better than the media understands them!" he wrote.



Last time I went to Davos, the Fake News said I should not go there. This year, because of the Shutdown, I decided not to go, and the Fake News said I should be there. The fact is that the people understand the media better than the media understands them! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019



Trump was the first sitting U.S. president to travel to Davos for the gathering last year since former President Bill Clinton in 2000.