Corporate America is rushing to court Trump’s favor ahead of his second term, showing a stark reversal from his previous presidency as CEOs seek to navigate potential economic impacts of his tariff policies.

At a Glance

• President-elect Trump noted a significant shift in business leaders’ attitudes compared to 2016, with many now proactively seeking relationships before his inauguration
• CEOs from major companies including Apple, Facebook, and Amazon are engaging with Trump largely due to concerns over his proposed tariff policies on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada
• Trump has promised to expedite federal permitting for companies investing at least $1 billion in the US, with SoftBank already announcing a $100 billion investment
• The President-elect has demonstrated his willingness to directly call CEOs regarding business decisions he disagrees with, as exemplified by his interaction with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos
• Trump’s administration plans to maintain tariffs as a policy tool despite corporate outreach attempting to influence his stance

A New Corporate Approach to the Trump Administration

Business leaders across America are quickly shifting strategies as they prepare for Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Unlike his first term, when many executives maintained distance or even opposition, corporate America is now actively seeking to build relationships with the President-elect before he takes office in January. This represents a significant change in the business community’s approach, with executives from major companies like Apple, Facebook, and Amazon making direct overtures to Trump and his transition team.

“The first term, everybody was fighting me. In this term, everybody wants to be my friend. People want to get along with me this time. Well, they have gone through four years. And it wasn’t easy for me, but it wasn’t easy for them either. And that’s a great thing, though. Getting along is a great thing.”, said President Donald Trump.

This corporate outreach is largely motivated by concerns over Trump’s proposed tariff policies. The President-elect has consistently advocated for substantial tariffs on goods from countries like China, Mexico, and Canada. For businesses with international supply chains or manufacturing operations, these tariffs could significantly impact operational costs and pricing strategies. By establishing direct lines of communication now, CEOs hope to influence policy decisions before they become implemented.

Trump’s Direct CEO Engagement Style

Trump’s approach to business leaders stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s. While President Biden maintained more formal channels of communication through established business councils and industry associations, Trump prefers direct, one-on-one interactions with business leaders. This direct engagement style was recently demonstrated in his interaction with Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, whom Trump personally called after reports suggested Amazon might separately list tariff prices on its website.

“I’ll always call people if I disagree with them. If I think that somebody is doing something that’s incorrect, wrong, or maybe hurtful to the country, I’ll call. Wouldn’t you want me to call?”, added President Trump.

Following that call, Trump claimed Amazon changed course, though the company denied ever considering the move for its main site. The incident highlights Trump’s hands-on approach to corporate relations and his willingness to directly intervene when he believes company actions could undermine his economic policies. This approach creates both opportunities and challenges for business leaders, who must now prepare for potential presidential calls regarding their business decisions.

Tariffs and Economic Incentives

Despite the flurry of corporate outreach, Trump’s team has consistently indicated that tariffs will remain a central policy tool in his administration. The proposed tariff framework includes a 10% baseline on all countries with significantly higher rates for specific nations like China, where some products could face tariffs as high as 145%. These policies are already affecting pricing strategies for retailers dealing with Chinese manufacturers such as Temu and Shein.

Alongside tariff policies, Trump has outlined significant incentives for domestic investment. He’s promised to expedite federal permitting for companies investing at least $1 billion in the United States. SoftBank has already announced plans for a $100 billion investment in U.S. projects, potentially positioning itself to benefit from this streamlined process. However, questions remain about the feasibility of Trump’s expedited permitting plan, as it may require congressional approval and could potentially bypass important environmental protections.

Implications for Business Planning

As Trump’s inauguration approaches, companies are rapidly reassessing their government relations strategies. The direct engagement model preferred by Trump creates new imperatives for CEOs, who must now prepare for personal interactions with the President-elect rather than working through intermediaries. This shift is particularly significant for industries heavily impacted by trade policy, such as manufacturing, technology, and retail, where presidential decisions on tariffs could dramatically affect bottom lines.

Trump’s willingness to directly intervene in corporate decision-making, especially regarding pricing strategies related to tariffs, signals that executives should prepare for greater presidential scrutiny of their business operations. As seen with his warning to automotive companies against raising prices due to tariffs, Trump expects businesses to absorb tariff costs rather than passing them to consumers—a position that challenges conventional economic assumptions about tariff impacts and creates additional complexity for business planning.