John Kerry says Trump should resign during Davos appearance

(FOX NEWS) -- John Kerry, the former secretary of state and a potential 2020 hopeful, called on President Donald Trump to step down during a Tuesday appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Kerry, who lost his bid for the presidency in 2004, made the statement during a panel in which he was asked a hypothetical question: What his message for Trump would be if he were sitting next to him?

"He doesn't take any of this seriously," said the former U.S. senator.

When pressed by CNBC's Tania Bryer, Kerry gave a one-word response: "Resign."

Trump was slated to travel to Davos for the summit but canceled amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.

The president acknowledged his absence and critiized the media in an early morning Tweet on Tuesday.

"Last time I went to Davos, the Fake News said I should not go there" he tweeted. "This year, because of the Shutdown, I decided not to go, and the Fake News said I should be there."

Kerry has been a consistent critic of the president. After former former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis resigned earlier this year, Kerry condemned Trump's "pull-out, walk-away presidency," describing Trump's decision to pull out U.S. troops from Syria a "moment of shame."

When Kerry was asked if he would consider joining the 2020 presidential race, he said he has not "taken anything off the table."