Former President Donald Trump to Address Business Roundtable at Upcoming Meeting
ICARO Media Group
Former President Donald Trump is set to attend a private meeting with one of Washington's most influential business lobbying groups, the Business Roundtable. The group's CEO, Joshua Bolten, confirmed in an email to members that Trump will be present at the plenary meeting scheduled for June 13.
The meeting, which will be off the record and closed to the press, aims to forge an alliance between Trump and major corporate leaders. President Joe Biden was also invited, but due to his overseas travel for a G7 meeting, the White House Chief of Staff, Jeff Zients, will represent the administration at the gathering.
According to Bolten's message, Zients has accepted the invitation and is scheduled to address the Business Roundtable on June 13. This opportunity allows Trump to engage with the organization's over 200 CEOs, potentially solidifying their support and campaign contributions.
The timing of the invitation comes less than a week after Trump's conviction in New York for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to a porn star. Trump and his campaign have consistently denied these charges.
The Business Roundtable, while supportive of Trump's tax cuts during his presidency, had reservations about his policy of imposing tariffs on Chinese goods. In 2017, several members resigned from the White House's business advisory councils following the white nationalist attack in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Despite these differences, Trump has persistently sought the endorsement and involvement of influential business leaders. His senior campaign adviser, Susie Wiles, recently addressed a group of Republican megadonors in Florida, making the case for their support.
While the Business Roundtable's meeting with Trump could prove to be a pivotal moment in his campaign, some members have already thrown their weight behind him. Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, who initially sought an alternative candidate in 2022, has now endorsed Trump. Other notable members include Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Harvey Schwartz of Carlyle Group, John Stankey of AT&T, and Mike Wirth of Chevron.
Following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, the Business Roundtable condemned the attack and called on Trump to facilitate a peaceful transition of power. Nevertheless, Republican-leaning business leaders have continued to support Trump, even after his recent conviction. The former president's operation claimed to have raised over $50 million in the 24 hours following the guilty verdict.
As the Business Roundtable prepares for its upcoming quarterly meeting, Trump's appearance and engagement with the influential group could shape his campaign strategy moving forward.