CEOs met with former President Donald Trump in Washington this week, where Trump spoke about his plans to further cut the corporate tax rate. Some CEOs who were initially leaning towards supporting Trump in November later found him to be “remarkably meandering” and unable to articulate how he plans to achieve his policy proposals. The meeting featured top business leaders such as Walmart CEO Doug McMillon, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon. Trump’s energy was described as subdued by at least two people present at the meeting.
According to CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, who spoke with attendees, some CEOs walked out of the meeting feeling disheartened and questioning Trump’s ability to keep a straight thought. While Trump talked about lowering the corporate tax rate to 20% from the current 21%, when asked why he chose that specific rate, he simply said, “It’s a round number.” This response left some CEOs shaking their heads as they considered the implications of such a decision on the country’s tax revenue.
Sorkin reported that some CEOs who went into the meeting as soft Trump supporters left feeling less predisposed towards him and startled by his lack of coherence. One CEO mentioned that Trump’s meandering communication style made it difficult to follow a through line in his speech. Despite these concerns raised by attendees, Steven Cheung, communications director for the Trump 2024 campaign, claimed that the former president was warmly received by everyone in the room and commended for his policy proposals on deregulation and tax cuts.
The meeting with Trump and CEOs highlighted discrepancies in communication styles and concerns about the former president’s ability to effectively convey his policy ideas. While Trump discussed his plans to reduce the corporate tax rate, his response to questions about his decision-making process left some CEOs feeling uncertain. The meeting revealed a disconnect between Trump’s communication style and the expectations of top business leaders, with some finding his energy subdued and his speech meandering.
Overall, the meeting between CEOs and Trump showcased a lack of clarity and coherence in the former president’s communication, leading some attendees to question his mental fitness and ability to keep a straight thought. Despite Steven Cheung’s assertion that Trump was warmly received and commended for his policy proposals, reports suggest that some CEOs walked out feeling disheartened and less predisposed towards supporting him. The discrepancies between Trump’s communication style and the expectations of business leaders could impact their willingness to back him in the upcoming election.
