Do CEOs think Donald Trump will win?
As the presidential election draws to a close next week, the most visible voice in the public eye for many CEOs and companies regarding the election has been silence — and Donald Trump’s campaign is using this as a way for American companies to prepare for his victory. There is a growing tendency to interpret this as a sign that progress may be underway.
Top business leaders, including Silicon Valley heavyweights, have reached out to the former president to rebuild relationships and protect their businesses if Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris, according to a new report. It looks like he’s trying to.
Business leaders are privately discussing how to prepare for President Trump’s return. According to the Washington Post, attendees at last week’s Business Council, an invitation-only gathering of CEOs, discussed what steps they should take if President Trump attacks his perceived enemies.
“I told the CEOs to get to work as quickly as possible because the clock is ticking,” an anonymous Trump adviser told the Post. “If you support Harris and you never hear back from her until after the election, it’s going to be a tough fight.”
Leaders of big tech companies are among those trying to reboot relationships. In recent weeks, President Trump said he has met with Apple’s Tim Cook and Alphabet’s Sundar Pichai. He has also been contacted by Mark Zuckerberg, and CNN added that Amazon’s Andy Jassy has been in touch.
Trump associates told CNN the reason for the push was clear: Trump is pursuing a number of companies, and rebuilding relationships would at least hedge against a victory next week. Ta. (Anonymous sources told CNN that Jassy’s call was made at the company’s request and was a general pleasantries.)
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