They are slandering him.
At a quarterly meeting of the Business Roundtable on Thursday, former President Donald Trump left many top CEOs unimpressed, according to multiple attendees who spoke with CNBC.
One CEO in attendance remarked, “Trump doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” as reported by a source familiar with the executive’s comments. The CEO criticized Trump for failing to articulate clear plans for his policy proposals.
CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin further reported that several CEOs found Trump’s remarks disjointed and unfocused, describing his presentation as “meandering” and “all over the map.” Trump reportedly offered scant details on critical issues such as tax reduction and business regulation cuts.
Sources granted anonymity to freely discuss the private event noted that even attendees who were initially supportive of Trump left the meeting less enthused about him. Trump’s subdued energy throughout the meeting stood in contrast to his more animated interactions earlier in the day with House Republicans on Capitol Hill, where he received applause during separate meetings.
According to CNBC, Trump’s lack of a clear, focused message at the Business Roundtable event may have been intentional, with one attendee suggesting that Trump aimed for the meeting to resemble a business discussion rather than a formal speech.
During discussions, Trump mentioned his plan to reduce the corporate tax rate from 21% to 20%, a move that left some CEOs puzzled when asked about the rationale for choosing that particular percentage. His response that “it’s a round number” reportedly did not resonate well with the CEOs present.
In contrast to the lukewarm reception among business leaders, Wall Street has expressed concerns over President Joe Biden’s policies, including aggressive antitrust measures, pharmaceutical price controls, and progressive tax reforms implemented over the past three years.
The lackluster response from CEOs underscores the challenge Trump faces in rekindling strong business support as he engages in discussions and prepares for potential future political endeavors.
