President-elect Trump is playing hardball with CEOs, promising direct phone calls if they defy his economic vision – and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos just found out the hard way.
At a Glance
- Trump revealed a major shift in CEO relationships from 2016, with business leaders now eager to build bridges before his inauguration
- Trump personally called Amazon’s Jeff Bezos over reports the company might separately list tariff prices, causing Amazon to allegedly change course
- Major companies like Apple, Facebook, and Amazon are engaging with Trump primarily due to concerns over his proposed tariff policies
- Trump promises expedited federal permitting for companies investing $1+ billion in America
- Despite corporate outreach, Trump’s team confirms tariffs will remain a central policy tool in his administration
From Adversaries to Allies: Corporate America’s Trump Transformation
When it comes to his relationships with America’s top CEOs, President-elect Donald Trump is noticing a dramatic shift. The business leaders who once maintained their distance are now lining up for his attention – and there’s no mystery why. With his tariff-focused economic agenda looming, corporate America is suddenly discovering the value of having Trump’s ear. The contrast between his first election and current victory couldn’t be more stark, as Trump himself observed with evident satisfaction.
“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 Donald Trump.
This corporate courtship represents a strategic pivot from America’s business elite. Unlike the Biden administration, which kept CEOs at arm’s length, Trump is offering direct access – but with strings attached. Leaders of tech giants like Apple, Facebook, and Amazon aren’t seeking relationships out of sudden admiration for Trump’s personality; they’re desperately trying to influence or derail his proposed tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada that could devastate their international operations and profit margins.
The Bezos Call: When The President Dials, CEOs Listen
If corporate America needed any evidence that Trump means business, they got it with the Jeff Bezos phone call. When reports emerged that Amazon might list tariff prices separately on their website – potentially highlighting the consumer impact of Trump’s policies – the President-elect didn’t send an intermediary. He picked up the phone himself and called the Amazon founder directly. The outcome? According to Trump, Bezos immediately abandoned any such plans.
“He’s just a very nice guy. We have a relationship. I asked him about it. He said, ‘Well, I don’t want to do that,’ and he took it off immediately.” Trump said.
While Amazon officially denied ever considering such a move for its main site, the exchange demonstrates the unprecedented direct line Trump maintains with America’s business leaders. And he’s making it crystal clear this direct approach will continue throughout his presidency. Any CEO considering policies Trump views as contrary to his economic agenda can expect their phone to ring, regardless of their company’s size or influence.
“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?” Trump said.
Tariffs and Incentives: The Trump Economic Playbook Returns
Despite the corporate charm offensive and CEO outreach, Trump’s economic team has made one thing abundantly clear: tariffs aren’t negotiable. They will remain a cornerstone policy tool in his administration, including a new 10% baseline tariff on all countries and a staggering 145% tariff on certain Chinese imports. The message to businesses is unmistakable – adapt to this new reality rather than fight it. When pressed on whether tariffs ultimately hurt American consumers, Trump rejected the premise entirely.
But it’s not all sticks and no carrots. Trump has promised expedited federal permitting for companies investing at least $1 billion in the United States – a proposal that has already attracted attention from SoftBank, which announced plans for $100 billion in American investments. However, environmental advocacy groups have raised concerns that such expedited approvals could bypass critical environmental protections, and implementing the plan may require congressional approval. Nevertheless, the message is clear: invest in America under Trump’s terms, and regulatory red tape will vanish.
