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.

  • Eugene V. Debs' Ghost@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    7 days 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.

    • Anti_Iridium@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      From what I understand, is that his supporters know he lies, but they believe he is telling the truth about X, which is whatever his supporters think is the most important.

    • Yewb@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      He is the embodiment of all of thier wishes they hear whatever they want when he speaks.

  • cultsuperstar@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    What are they expecting, exactly? Even Musk was saying a day before the election that Trump was going to tank the economy. I’m sure Trump will just say “things are going to get worse before they get better, but believe you me when they get better, you’re all going to be filthy rich!” The typical Trump supporter will assume he’s talking to them, but he’ll only be talking to those who are already filthy rich.

  • Frostbeard@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Whats going to happen is what happened last time. Trump proposes tariffs on products from [industry]. Business leaders from said [industry] bends knee, kisses ring and ass, donates cash, and tariffs never materializes.

  • Breve@pawb.social
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    6 days ago

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

  • Doorbook@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Ceo will save themselves, if they are normal, they will have assets in different countries and just move.

    Poor people on the other hands would not be able to move to another city.

    • Doomsider@lemmy.world
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      7 days 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.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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      8 days 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.

      • anomnom@sh.itjust.works
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        7 days 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.

      • psycho_driver@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

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

        • Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          7 days ago

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

    • finder@lemmy.world
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      8 days 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.

      • meco03211@lemmy.world
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        8 days 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.

    • tburkhol@lemmy.world
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      7 days 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.

    • Croquette@sh.itjust.works
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      8 days 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.

  • Maiq@lemy.lol
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    8 days ago

    He’s a Russian asset, what do they think he is going to do anything that’s in the US’s best interest? He’s here to burn it to the ground and line his pockets with what’s not ashes.

    Honestly at this point I don’t know how anyone can’t see the obvious.

      • Maiq@lemy.lol
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        8 days ago

        With all the anger about the dead CEO lately and rightfully angry people in glee over the violence, I truly think we could accomplish more with a general strike. Crash the fake economy built on fraud. If wall street looses billions a day in their fictional numbers they throw around we would show them real power. This would accomplish more than any dead CEO ever could.

        Saw a post where the Trump administration is eyeing pulling FDIC from our banks! They already plan on crashing the economy. Stealing all your money, and making the US in Russia’s image.

        https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/trump-advisers-reported-plan-ease-banking-oversight-may-not-get-required-support-2024-12-13/

        If we beat them to the punch we might still have our bank account money at least while their fictional money evaporates into thin air.

        One thing the real rich people won’t stand for is their money vanishing. If we hold out long enough the real wealthy will likely turn on him, hell he might fall out a window!

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          It’s going to be hard to convince people to strike when so many of them are in massive debt and live paycheck-to-paycheck.

          When you can barely feed your kids on what little you’re paid, you’re a lot less willing to strike. Especially if you aren’t in a union and can be fired for it. And the corpos know it and rely on it.

            • Maiq@lemy.lol
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              7 days ago

              So the plan is to wait till more people choose violence and hope that does anything but solidify the ruling class behind armed forces and impenetrable walls of security and eventually anonymity. To me that seems like a waste of valuable time, resources and lives.

              Violence should be the last resort. I truly believe that general strike is the best option.

              • skulblaka@sh.itjust.works
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                7 days ago

                “Best option” does not mean “realistic option”. I think you’re correct. I also think we’ve been (intentionally) pushed to a point where we can’t exercise that option.

          • Maiq@lemy.lol
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            7 days ago

            I wholeheartedly agree it’s a hard sell. What other viable non violent means do we have left?

            Do we wait for the ruling class to crash the economy? The people will be even more fucked than they are now.

            People are going to have to be willing to put themselves at risk or there will be no reward, only serfdom and abject destitute for all.

            • Cruxifux@feddit.nl
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              7 days ago

              That’s the thing. I don’t think there are any viable non violent means left. Unless some magical unicorn leader gains power in the US and other countries the elites are tied to fast that is willing to wrench power from their hands through legal means, and looking at global political movements as they stand right now I do not think that is going to happen any time soon.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              7 days ago

              I do not hold out hope for enough people who are willing to make altruistic sacrifices for it to work. I lost all optimism I might have had when it came to America on the first Wednesday in November.

                • Cruxifux@feddit.nl
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                  7 days ago

                  Understanding that violent means are the only realistic way to change things at this point is not apathy.

        • Cruxifux@feddit.nl
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          7 days ago

          I never understood the whole “they won’t stand for losing money” tactic. What you’re asking them to do with a general strike is to relinquish their money to the masses and reduce the wealth gap significantly. They won’t do that. They will do literally anything, including forcing people back to work for them with violence from mercenary groups (or robot dogs, which is horrifying to me) before they submit to the will of the people. A general strike would be a good step, but if you think it will go over well for the working class without any bloodshed then you should learn about how the elites have treated striking in the past.

          • Maiq@lemy.lol
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            7 days ago

            It wasn’t the poor oppressed peoples of Rome that undid Caesar, it was the disaffected members of the elite.

            The best option for the least bloodshed it to force the hand of those in power to act in their own self interest. If their best option is getting rid of the source of their problems in an attempt to retain the money and power they have they will stab anyone in the back to get what they want.

            We need to split their class solidarity.

      • protist@mander.xyz
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        8 days ago

        Build connections in your local community. Organize and elect your candidates at the local level

      • GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world
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        7 days ago

        It was said below but I really think that there needs to be more people that are willing to run for office with a more progressive message.

        I know it’s not as sexy as revolution or CEO-cide but it really is a better way to make changes without fucking the country up completely.

        So how the fuck do you run for office ? I don’t know but there are resources that can help. If you don’t want to run that’s fair but as you mentioned the time to just sit around and bitch online in an echo chamber is done. Progressives are going to have to find a way to make their voices heard and in a way that isn’t talking down to people.

        Note: I get the anger and the desire to want to scare the fuck out of the ruling class. But murder isn’t the only thing that the ruling class is scared of, they also don’t want people to vote for their own self-interest. They don’t want the people to demand billionaires pay more in taxes. And a significant group of progressive politicians would scare the shit out of the established ruling class.

  • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    8 days 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@lemmy.world
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      8 days 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.

      • kent_eh@lemmy.ca
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        7 days 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@sh.itjust.works
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      8 days 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.

  • Shirasho@lemmings.world
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    8 days 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?