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Kimberly White/Getty Images for WIRED
- A coalition of former CEOs released an op-ed on Tuesday endorsing Kamala Harris for the presidency.
- They argued that Donald Trump’s policies would negatively impact business and harm the US economy.
- This endorsement comes as Trump has received backing from figures like Elon Musk and other industry leaders.
A collective of ex-CEOs from prominent American corporations, including American Airlines, LinkedIn, Xerox, and American Express, advocated for Kamala Harris in a recent op-ed published just one week before Election Day.
The 17 business executives expressed their support for Harris based on their belief that she would foster a healthier economic environment compared to former President Donald Trump. Their arguments were presented in an article featured in Fortune.
This influential group included notable figures such as Reid Hoffman (former CEO of LinkedIn), Doug Parker (former CEO of American Airlines), Ken Chenault (former CEO of American Express), Michael Lynton (former Sony CEO and current chairman at Snap), among others who have led major publicly traded firms.
“Many people assume that the heads of America’s largest companies predominantly support Donald Trump; however, this is far from accurate,” they stated.
The authors noted that current CEOs might refrain from voicing their opinions due to potential repercussions affecting their businesses. As such, they felt compelled to speak out as former leaders who maintain connections with active executives today.
They criticized Trump’s ”extreme anti-business” stance, highlighting his proposals for “draconian” tariffs on imports and his discussions about undermining the Federal Reserve’s independence.
Despite coming from diverse political backgrounds, these business leaders are rallying behind Harris partly due to concerns regarding the state of the US economy. They referenced indicators such as GDP growth rates, record-high stock market valuations, wage increases, and employment statistics among other economic measures.
This endorsement follows Elon Musk’s increasing involvement with Trump’s campaign. “I haven’t been politically active before; I’m now because I believe America’s future—and civilization itself—is at stake,” Musk remarked during a town hall event he hosted last Saturday in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania.
Other corporate leaders have also publicly backed Trump; Stephen Schwarzman (CEO of Blackstone) recently stated that he believes Trump would be “efficient and effective.”
Conversely, some executives choose not to disclose their political preferences publicly even if they hold private opinions supporting specific candidates.
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld—a professor at Yale School of Management and co-author of Tuesday’s op-ed—previously shared insights with Business Insider indicating that many chief executives avoid public endorsements out of concern over potentially alienating customers or employees unnecessarily.
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