Trump Enlists Titan CEOs to Shape Global Image/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump is leveraging America’s top CEOs to boost his global image. Executives from Nvidia to JP Morgan joined him on his Middle East tour. While seeking regulatory breaks, they helped Trump project economic strength abroad.
Trump and the CEOs Quick Looks
- Trump toured the Middle East with a trail of U.S. CEOs in tow.
- Nvidia, JPMorgan, and oil giants followed Air Force One through the Gulf.
- Executives sought favor with Trump amid tariffs and regulatory uncertainty.
- Business summits were quickly arranged to showcase investment deals.
- CEOs said they felt pressure to stay close to Trump’s orbit.
- Trump touted himself as “cheerleader for our country” during trip.
- Musk’s Tesla praised, while Amazon and Walmart faced tariff backlash.
- CEOs like Jamie Dimon have learned TV appearances can influence Trump.
- Trump promotes companies that “kiss the ring,” punishes others.
- The administration’s unpredictable stance has left firms scrambling for influence.
Deep Look: Trump’s CEO Corps Shadows Him Abroad to Protect Their Interests
WASHINGTON — May 21, 2025 — As President Donald Trump wrapped his high-profile Middle East tour, he wasn’t alone. Shadowing him across the Gulf region were CEOs from Nvidia, JPMorgan, oil firms, and major retailers — all vying to stay close to the transactional leader whose policies can make or break their bottom lines.
Executives Turned Ambassadors
In what has become a new norm under Trump’s presidency, corporate leaders have become part of his informal entourage, jetting between Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi to help project a booming U.S. economy — even as domestic growth cools.
Business leaders described it as surreal: hastily joining Trump’s trip, canceling meetings back home, and playing supporting roles in regional business summits organized to flatter the president.
Trump embraced the optics. At one summit, he stood beside Cleveland Clinic CEO Tomislav Mihaljevic, declaring, “I have to be a cheerleader for our country. You think Biden would be doing this? I don’t think so.”
Vanity Meets Transactional Politics
Trump’s reliance on CEOs for image-building isn’t new, but the stakes are higher now. His tariff policies and aggressive deregulation efforts have made White House access crucial. Executives know that those who align publicly win favor, while critics get targeted.
“He wants the vanity of people coming in to kiss his ring,” said Jeffrey Sonnenfeld of Yale’s CEO institute. “And it works. They get better deals, more media, more access.”
The Musk and Bezos Divide
Elon Musk’s Tesla has been a constant beneficiary of Trump’s praise and policy support. On the flip side, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — once seen at Trump’s inauguration — found himself on the receiving end of presidential fury after Amazon reportedly considered showing tariff surcharges on product listings.
Despite maintaining regular communication with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, even Walmart CEO Doug McMillon became a target after saying his company couldn’t absorb all the cost of tariffs. Trump publicly told Walmart to “eat the tariffs.”
Luxury Diplomacy and French Flair
Even French luxury giant LVMH got a cameo. Alexandre Arnault, son of CEO Bernard Arnault, showed up at the White House on Monday to present Tiffany & Co. medals honoring fallen law enforcement. Trump offered praise — a rare moment of softness amid growing global trade tensions.
LVMH has struggled this year under Trump’s tariffs, but the Oval Office appearance may help.
CEOs Scramble to Interpret Signals
Executives say Trump’s shifting moods make it hard to determine who influences him — and how. While Treasury Secretary Bessent is a key channel, Fox News appearances have become surprisingly effective.
Case in point: JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon. On Fox Business, he said financial markets would stabilize if Trump pursued trade deals. Within hours, Trump lowered tariffs to 10%, giving talks 90 days to develop.
“I watched Jamie Dimon this morning… he was very good,” Trump later told reporters.
Apple’s Billions Still Not Enough
Even Apple’s $500 billion investment pledge hasn’t guaranteed protection. When Apple revealed plans to shift iPhone production to India, Trump confronted CEO Tim Cook personally.
“I said to him, ‘I treated you good… but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want that,’” Trump recalled while in Qatar.
From Dealmakers to Damage Control
The pattern is clear: Make a public pledge, score a photo op with the president, and hope it buys time or influence. CEOs know they’re helping Trump’s image, but the benefits for their companies are mixed — especially as tariff-driven supply chain headaches grow.
And with Trump insisting on tariff compliance, foreign investment in U.S. factories, and patriotic corporate messaging, firms are walking a tightrope between appeasement and autonomy.
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