Summary

U.S. CEOs and business executives are alarmed as Donald Trump remains firm on imposing high tariffs on U.S. allies, despite warnings from economists about potential economic harm.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump’s late-night social media announcements have blindsided both his advisers and business leaders, leaving them scrambling to react.

While Trump consults some advisers, like Marco Rubio and Treasury pick Scott Bessent, his unilateral approach limits their influence.

The uncertainty has left business leaders struggling to find ways to alter his stance on trade policies.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    238 months ago

    After the great depression, tariffs were implemented and failed to do anything other than fuck over the American people.

    The event that finally ended the Great Depression was the United States’ entry into World War II, which significantly boosted the economy through increased demand for war materials and created millions of jobs in defense industries. While President Roosevelt’s “New Deal” programs aimed to alleviate the Depression, they did not fully end it. The massive production needs of World War II essentially pulled the US out of the Depression. The government spending on war materials created a significant economic stimulus.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    108 months ago

    Let’s see, he could not impose tarrifs and make everyone happy that he’s not going to burn down the economy OR he could impose tariffs, shut down taxes on the ultra-wealthy and embezzel/stock trade his ass back to billionaire with cash on hand.

    he DGAF what anyone wants unless they’re going to make him significantly richer.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    38 months ago

    Are these CEOs too stupid to realize they forgot to donate $1 million dollars to Trump’s inaugural fund? Total amateurs. 🙄

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      18 months ago

      They probably did, but didn’t account that he’s long past when his brain was capable of reason.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      118 months ago

      Because they thought it would only happen to others and they’d be fine. Guess the leopard with a rooster hat is coming to roar and eat faces.

    • Chozo
      link
      fedilink
      1728 months ago

      Maybe the leopards started with the eyes.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      158 months ago

      Remember that Trump lies about everything, often in both directions. Everyone knows this, including his supporters. That gives his supporters the mental freedom to make up whateverthefuck policy positions they like and find proof that they are Trump’s real plan.

      Donald Trump is the human version of a Bible. If you’re a Believer, god says he will implement your Desire. If you’re a Heretic, god says he will destroy the world. All with the same words.

    • finder
      link
      fedilink
      418 months ago

      Because folks do their 5 minute research by reading conservative mainstream news outlets and safe space enclaves that Tariffs are good.

      Talking points to the contrary are not allowed, so they get to find out the hard way.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        248 months ago

        To be fair. The message they’re receiving is that tariffs will hurt the people that deserve it. And they’re absolutely right. But while they’re suffering, so will the rest of America.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      1168 months ago

      You ever talk to c-level execs? Many of them simply aren’t smart. They’re just very aggressive and confident which gives the appearance of intelligence.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        408 months ago

        A lot of times attractiveness plays a big role too. In modern corporate america being attractive will get you further than being smart.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          338 months ago

          Studies have shown that something as simple as being tall makes people be more likely to be looked towards as leaders.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        58 months ago

        A-Students work for B-Students in companies owned by C-Students, which are financed by D-Students, while the hedge funds owned by the sociopathic F-Students short sell the whole thing to make sure they have enough spare cash to buy a new library wing at Harvard, so their F-Student-kids get in.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    468 months ago

    You let the fox in the henhouse. Why would he listen? He’s not planning to win over hearts and minds

  • Eugene V. Debs' Ghost
    link
    fedilink
    English
    358 months ago

    “Stupid CEOs are left dumbfounded when a greedy selfish narcissist who only listens to those who pay him the most is a greedy selfist narcissist.”

    I know CEOs are never the smartest people, but Jesus Christ. Milk spoiling in the summer heat is less obvious.

  • Shirasho
    link
    fedilink
    728 months ago

    This guy has tanked all of his previous enterprises due to his poor decision making and lack of knowledge. What in their right minds made them think this would be any different?

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    1198 months ago

    They thought they’d vote anti-tax first, then pushover trump on the tariffs when they had the time. Looks like they were wrong.

    More faces being eaten.

    • ThePowerOfGeek
      link
      fedilink
      English
      55
      edit-2
      8 months ago

      If this was his first go-around I could see some rationale to that idea. But holy shit, has there been a case of collective amnesia among business ‘leaders’?!!

      They knew exactly what they were getting. Because we’ve seen all this before. Usually this is the definition of madness. But in this case it should be the definition of stupidity.

      This same surprised Pikachu shit is going to happen over and over and over again over the next 4+ years. Even right now, the media keep assuming what he says is what he will do. And I have no idea why. He demonstrated in his first term that at least half of what he promises he either backtracks on he doesn’t follow through on. Why they think things will be different this time is beyond me.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        5
        edit-2
        8 months ago

        has there been a case of collective amnesia among business ‘leaders’?!!

        Business leaders in the last decade or 2 have increasingly been laser focused on nothing beyond the next 6 months - AKA short term returns.

        The long term survival of their business or what has happened in previous years are simply not part of their thought process when the next quarter’s profits are all that matters.

    • enkers
      link
      fedilink
      258 months ago

      The one singular upside of Cheeto 2.0 is that I’ll get to enjoy some guilty schadenfreude as the face eating leopard starts eating the faces of the party-for-face-eating-leopards.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    538 months ago

    I hope he ruins all of them. Every last one.

    You had four whole years of Trump to realize he never jokes around, he doesn’t bluff, and he’s never going to pivot, change directions, or admit he made a mistake. He means what he says and there is no nuance or subtext.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      178 months ago

      My only solace is that Trump kills everything he touches and betrays everyone who is loyal to him.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      68 months ago

      In some regards, I hope so too. The old Fuck Around and Find Out bit. The fucking MAGAts will look like deer in headlights when the economic freight train derails and crashes.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      21
      edit-2
      8 months ago

      He means what he says and there is no nuance or subtext.

      Well, there is a sort of nuance here.

      In that he’s also terrible at doing literally anything, and fails constantly at achieving promises.

      He also has so many plots and schemes cooking at any given moment with so many other people and organizations that you absolutely cannot trust or predict any outcome. This is the real thing that nobody learned about Trump is that he is completely unpredictable because he can’t be honest about the color of the sky if asked.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        58 months ago

        There were also guardrails to stop his half baked schemes from being implemented, or people with integrity in career positions that had the hard option of saying no.

        I’m just worried this time he will tell his head of the EPA to make the sky that color.

        And the head of the EPA will.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    28 months ago

    I’m sure imposing tariffs benefits him and his cronies. That’s why he promises to put it in place.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      2
      edit-2
      8 months ago

      They are probably playing the stock market using the office to manipulate prices. This is a huge problem and is why we don’t need businessmen in the government there to enrich themselves.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    41
    edit-2
    8 months ago

    He has already shown them what he wants them to do.

    Just donate $1 million to him and he will help your business