US Corporate Titans Show Signs of Waking Up from Trump-induced Coma as Protests and Boycotts Mount
For the first time in Donald Trump's presidency, the US corporate elite is showing signs of waking up to the brutal handling of its immigration policies. The killing of Alex Pretti, 37, by federal agents in Minneapolis has sparked widespread outrage among corporations that have been largely silent on the issue. A group of 60 CEOs from Minnesota-based companies, including Target, Best Buy, and General Mills, recently released a statement calling for "immediate de-escalation" of tensions and urging law enforcement agencies to find real solutions.
However, their statement was met with backlash from many who felt it did not do enough to condemn the actions of federal agents. The lack of strong leadership from corporate America is particularly striking given the gravity of the situation. Eight people have already been killed by federal agents or died while in ICE custody this year alone.
The response from CEOs has been muted, with many choosing to prioritize maintaining friendly ties with Trump over taking a stand on issues that affect their bottom line. Apple CEO Tim Cook's attendance at a VIP screening of the Melania Trump documentary at the White House is just one example of how far some corporate leaders are willing to go to avoid rocking the boat.
But as protests and boycotts continue to mount, it's clear that the tide is turning. Historically, American corporations have been careful to stay out of politics, but with Trump's presidency, they've found themselves caught in a tightening bind. The risk of backlash from the Trump administration has become too great for some companies to ignore.
The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction will be dire if corporate America fails to rise to the moment. As Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at New York University's Stern business school, noted, "There's no good decision. That's the kind of era that we're in right now." The calculus for speaking out against issues like immigration policy has changed, and it's clear that many CEOs are trying to navigate this treacherous landscape.
The Trump administration has made clear its willingness to use economic levers to punish companies that displease it. From tariffs to litigation, the regime is using every tool at its disposal to maintain its grip on power. As Taylor warned, "The risks are really not theoretical – they're real." The question is whether corporate America will find a way to stand up to Trump and fight for what's right.
For now, the response from CEOs remains lukewarm, with many choosing to prioritize short-term gains over long-term consequences. But as the situation continues to escalate, it's likely that more companies will feel compelled to take a stand. The question is whether they'll do so before it's too late.
For the first time in Donald Trump's presidency, the US corporate elite is showing signs of waking up to the brutal handling of its immigration policies. The killing of Alex Pretti, 37, by federal agents in Minneapolis has sparked widespread outrage among corporations that have been largely silent on the issue. A group of 60 CEOs from Minnesota-based companies, including Target, Best Buy, and General Mills, recently released a statement calling for "immediate de-escalation" of tensions and urging law enforcement agencies to find real solutions.
However, their statement was met with backlash from many who felt it did not do enough to condemn the actions of federal agents. The lack of strong leadership from corporate America is particularly striking given the gravity of the situation. Eight people have already been killed by federal agents or died while in ICE custody this year alone.
The response from CEOs has been muted, with many choosing to prioritize maintaining friendly ties with Trump over taking a stand on issues that affect their bottom line. Apple CEO Tim Cook's attendance at a VIP screening of the Melania Trump documentary at the White House is just one example of how far some corporate leaders are willing to go to avoid rocking the boat.
But as protests and boycotts continue to mount, it's clear that the tide is turning. Historically, American corporations have been careful to stay out of politics, but with Trump's presidency, they've found themselves caught in a tightening bind. The risk of backlash from the Trump administration has become too great for some companies to ignore.
The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction will be dire if corporate America fails to rise to the moment. As Alison Taylor, a clinical associate professor at New York University's Stern business school, noted, "There's no good decision. That's the kind of era that we're in right now." The calculus for speaking out against issues like immigration policy has changed, and it's clear that many CEOs are trying to navigate this treacherous landscape.
The Trump administration has made clear its willingness to use economic levers to punish companies that displease it. From tariffs to litigation, the regime is using every tool at its disposal to maintain its grip on power. As Taylor warned, "The risks are really not theoretical – they're real." The question is whether corporate America will find a way to stand up to Trump and fight for what's right.
For now, the response from CEOs remains lukewarm, with many choosing to prioritize short-term gains over long-term consequences. But as the situation continues to escalate, it's likely that more companies will feel compelled to take a stand. The question is whether they'll do so before it's too late.
corporate america was all chill about trump's immigration policies, but now they're getting stepped on by the public 
it's like they finally woke up from their sleep, but are still trying to figure out how to get back to reality 
honestly, i think it's kinda admirable that some of these ceos are taking a stand, even if it's just a small step in the right direction 
but at the same time, i'm like... what about all those who can't afford to take a stance? what about the ones who are still trying to get their feet wet 
. It's about time, if you ask me. Eight people dead at the hands of ICE or federal agents? That's just not right 
. Can't these CEOs see that their silence is only emboldenin' the wrong kind of behavior? I'm glad to see some big names like Target and Best Buy speakin' out, but we need more 
. The calculus has changed, as Alison Taylor said. There's no good decision when it comes to speakin' out against injustice 
. I hope more CEOs take the leap soon, before Trump's threat of backlash becomes too great 
. We need change now, not later 
.
but let's not get ahead of ourselves - this is just the beginning of a larger conversation about power and accountability 
it's like they think they can just check off "condemn immigration policies" on their to-do lists without actually doing anything meaningful about it 
until the protests and boycotts get louder and more widespread, i'm not convinced that any of them will do the hard work of really pushing back against trump's policies 
. Thats why theyre not taking any real action against Trumps immigration policies, they dont wanna lose that 1% profit margin 
. I mean sure its good that Target and Best Buy are speaking out, but 60 CEOs is still not enough! We need real change, not just a bunch of empty statements 
i mean apple CEO tim cook attending that vip screening at the white house? what is up with that? 
. Like, doesn't he have any soul left in his corporate body or something? It's time for these big corps to take a stand and show some real leadership 
.
? It's like, what's next? Are they gonna start paying off politicians to ignore climate change or something? 
.