1. Griffin Slams CEOs Begging Trump for Tariff Breaks
Ken Griffin, CEO of hedge fund Citadel, called the sight of CEOs lining up at the White House asking Trump for tariff exemptions “nauseating.” He argued that such behavior risks crony capitalism by having the government pick corporate “winners and losers,” which “isn’t the American story.” Griffin stressed that even though CEOs like Tim Cook are acting in shareholders’ interests, preferential treatment by government undermines fairness and could hurt companies if future administrations penalize firms seen as too closely tied to one presidency.
Fortune
🗣 2. Criticizing Government Interference and
At a Wall Street Journal event, Griffin broadened his critique beyond trade policy to include political influence on corporate decisions. He said CEOs find political interference — from Trump and others — “distasteful,” noting that social-media pressure and political alignment pressures discourage executives from speaking out or operating independently. He also concerns about government-linked investments and deals that blur the line between public and private interests.
wsj.com
Warnings on Tariffs and Economic Policy