As the Iran war drags on, ‘shell-shocked’ CEOs may soon break their silence on Trump |
As the Iran war drags on, ‘shell-shocked’ CEOs may soon break their silence on Trump
In today’s CEO Daily: Diane Brady reports on CEOs’ growing frustration with the Trump administration.
The big leadership story: A yawning workplace ‘design gap’ could stall productivity gains.
The markets: Mixed globally as the Iran war enters its fifth week
Plus: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune.
Good morning. Will a war-induced recession inspire CEOs to speak out against the Trump administration? Economists like Moodys’ Mark Zandi say odds of a recession are now high. We know that most U.S. CEOs disapprove of Trump’s leadership, from his administration’s policies around tariffs and immigration to its approach to science, free speech and rule of law.
While business leaders might not have wanted the U.S. to start a war against Iran right now, they’re divided about when to end it. At the annual CERAWeek gathering in Houston last week, energy leaders from Dow CEO Jim Fitterling to Chevron’s Mike Wirth warned of dire consequences if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t opened to shipping as soon as possible. But JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon said the war could mean a “better chance” of permanent peace in the Middle East, while BlackRock CEO Larry Fink predicted the war could result in prosperity or a global recession—but not much in-between.
What’s clear is that no one is winning the war at the moment. Oil prices are up more than 50%, forcing Asia to hunt for alternatives. Russia isn’t gaining........