Archive · 18 Nov 2025
CEOs Navigate Trump's Unpredictable Presidency
Imagine waking up in 2024 after Trump's election and finding a mix of good and bad changes.
Businesses are happy with some things like tax cuts and stock market growth, but Trump's unpredictable policies make it hard for them to plan.
CEOs are trying to stay out of trouble or get on Trump's good side, but they're worried about what might happen next.
Corporate America's mixed feelings towards Trump's presidency
Trump's unconventional policies impact businesses
CEOs adopt 'shut up, suck up, think twice' strategy
Companies avoid cross-hairs, some ingratiate or preemptively engage with administration
Fear of unpredictability and reprisals keeps businesses cautious
- Who
- Corporate America, President Donald Trump
- What
- Navigating Trump's presidency and policies
- When
- 2024, one year after Trump's election
- Where
- United States
- Why
- To understand corporate America's conflicted feelings towards Trump's presidency
Cautious CEOs
Proactive CEOs
Strategy
Cautious CEOs
Shut up, suck up, think twice before standing up to Trump
Proactive CEOs
Preemptively engage with administration, find solutions Trump likes
Fear
Cautious CEOs
Fear of reprisals and unpredictability
Proactive CEOs
Focus on building better products, not wrangling exemptions
- Economic Growth
- American GDP outgrowing the rest of the rich world
- Corporate Tax Cuts
- Implemented
- Wall Street in Charge
- Wall Street types in charge of treasury and commerce departments
- Average Tariff Rate
- 10%
- S&P 500 Growth
- Beating analysts’ forecasts from 12 months ago thanks to AI boom