Donald Trump has cancelled plans to send a delegation to Davos, owing to the continuing government shutdown.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, announced on Thursday evening that the US would no longer be represented by Cabinet members, who would remain in Washington to deal with the continued crisis.

“Out of consideration for the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay and to ensure his team can assist as needed, President Trump has canceled his delegation’s trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland," she said in a statement.

The White House had announced on Tuesday a scaled-back delegation for the gathering of political leaders and global elites, which runs from January 22-25.

The team was to be led by Steve Mnuchin, the treasury secretary. He was to be accompanied by Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state; commerce secretary Wilbur Ross, and trade representative Robert Lighthizer.