Proposed resolution (approved by CWG 2024-01-19):

Change in 9.4.1 [dcl.init.general] bullet 9.1.2 as follows:

• ...
• otherwise, the object is zero-initialized and the semantic constraints for default-initialization are checked, and if T has a non-trivial default constructor, the object is then default-initialized;

[Accepted as a DR at the March, 2024 meeting.]

Subclause 9.4.1 [dcl.init.general] paragraph 9 specifies:

To value-initialize an object of type T means:

• if T is a (possibly cv-qualified) class type (Clause Clause 11 [class]), then
  • if T has either no default constructor (11.4.5.2 [class.default.ctor]) or a default constructor that is user-provided or deleted, then the object is default-initialized;
  • otherwise, the object is zero-initialized and the semantic constraints for default-initialization are checked, and if T has a non-trivial default constructor, the object is default-initialized;
• if T is an array type, ...

The specification about checking the semantic constraints and invoking only non-trivial default constructors is overly convoluted. Omitting a call to a trivial constructor is an as-if optimization that should not be prescribed by the standard.