CEOs attending a Trump meeting reportedly expressed frustration, saying the former president “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
- Former President Donald Trump failed to impress everyone in a room full of top CEOs this week, multiple attendees told CNBC.
- “Trump doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” said one CEO who was in the room.
- Several CEOs “said that [Trump] was remarkably meandering, could not keep a straight thought [and] was all over the map,” Andrew Ross Sorkin, co-host of CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” reported.
Former President Donald Trump left top CEOs underwhelmed during the Business Roundtable’s quarterly meeting, with multiple attendees criticizing his lack of detailed policy proposals and focus.
“Trump doesn’t know what he’s talking about,” one CEO said, according to a source. Several CEOs described Trump as “meandering” and unable to maintain a coherent thought, CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin reported. Key issues such as tax reduction and business deregulation were reportedly addressed without clear plans.
Attendees noted that some CEOs, initially inclined to support Trump, left the meeting less favorable toward him. Trump’s energy appeared subdued compared to his animated reception earlier with House Republicans, who gave him several rounds of applause.
Steven Cheung, communications director for Trump’s campaign, claimed Trump was warmly received and praised for his deregulatory and tax cut proposals. However, attendees noted the lack of noticeable applause during his remarks.
Trump’s explanation for lowering the corporate tax rate to 20%—”it’s a round number”—further puzzled the CEOs, Sorkin reported.
The meeting highlighted Wall Street’s dissatisfaction with current President Joe Biden’s aggressive policies, contrasting with Trump’s deregulation and tax cut agenda
