America's CEOs don't have the stomach for Trump's promised revenge tour

If reelected, Donald Trump plans to take revenge on those he considers threats, with his 'enemies' list seemingly expanding. This includes Democratic politicians, the media, and others he perceives as having acted unscrupulously. Business leaders recall the impact of his first term, where a single tweet could sink a company's stock or cause a boycott.

Some business figures have resisted, endorsing Kamala Harris, while others maintain silence to avoid becoming targets. Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, didn't explicitly back Trump but controversially blocked the paper's endorsement of any candidate, a move criticized by former Post editor Marty Baron. This decision was seen as aligning with the Republican nominee. Baron noted that while Bezos previously resisted Trump's threats, he has other interests, like his stake in Amazon and space company Blue Origin, which competes with SpaceX, owned by Trump supporter Elon Musk.

What Bezos and Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong did by halting endorsements, though seemingly neutral, sent a strong message. Such actions are less about swaying the electorate and more about making news directed at Trump. The decision resulted in significant subscription cancellations for The Washington Post.

Other executives engage in diplomacy behind the scenes. Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed European legal issues with Trump, Google CEO Sundar Pichai reportedly contacted Trump regarding a campaign stop, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy reached out in a similar manner. Mark Zuckerberg, after a threatening statement from Trump, called to wish Trump well after an incident.

Executives face challenges under a potential Trump administration, including trade policies that could impose hefty costs on imports and immigration policies that might cause labor shortages. Consequently, many business leaders have endorsed Harris, but others are cautious, preferring silence and diplomacy to protect their interests in case Trump returns to power. In an environment seeking certainty and stability, these executives argue that silence is a strategic business decision, recognizing that staying quiet is a deliberate choice when wielding significant influence.