CEOs remain silent on controversial political issues not out of agreement, but because they operate in silos. Their boards advise them to avoid individual conflict with Trump. This fear of being singled out prevents the collective action that would effectively counter authoritarian pressure.
Trump's lawsuit against JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon is not designed to be won in court. It's a strategic political tool intended as a 'massive chilling effect' to intimidate other corporate leaders into silence by demonstrating the high personal and professional cost of speaking out.
Trump's administration sent inexperienced ICE agents to Minnesota not for legitimate law enforcement, but to create a 'culture war' media event. The plan backfired when agents shot a civilian, creating a 'Kent State like moment' that turned public and corporate opinion against them.
CEOs of major corporations are now forced to spend a significant portion of their time—estimated at 15-20%—managing political risks created by the Trump administration. This 'Trump Drag' functions as a direct tax on innovation and long-term strategy, as executive focus shifts from business to political firefighting.
A psychological tactic to neutralize Stephen Miller is to publicly portray him as the power behind the throne. Citing how the 'President Bannon' Time Magazine cover led to Steve Bannon's ousting, this strategy would trigger Trump's narcissism and cause him to push Miller away.
Tim Cook's public appearances with Trump are a strategic necessity driven by Apple's deep manufacturing entanglement in China. To avoid tariffs and supply chain disruptions that would harm shareholders, Cook must placate Trump, forcing a compromise of the company's publicly stated values.
The deal creating a U.S. entity for TikTok has 'spayed' the platform by removing its 'weapons grade' intelligence-gathering and propaganda algorithm. Lacking its original secret sauce, the new version will likely see its cultural dominance fade, eventually becoming a less relevant platform akin to Yahoo.
With reports suggesting Trump has only five effective working hours per day, a massive power vacuum emerges for the other nineteen. This void is filled by advisor Stephen Miller, who writes speeches and drives policy, effectively acting as the de facto president and implementing his own extreme agenda.
In a scenario where VP JD Vance replaces an incapacitated Trump, he would be a less formidable leader. Vance lacks Trump's powerful personality cult, which is the essential glue holding his diverse and often conflicting political coalition together. Without it, Vance would face significant internal party resistance.