David McAfee
March 28, 2025
FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by attorneys Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, arrives for his criminal trial at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, NY on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. Jabin Botsford/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Donald Trump's transactional nature has carried over into his second presidency, leading CEOs and world leaders to whisper behind his back, according to a report.
Axios reported early Friday morning that, "If you're a foreign leader or a CEO about to meet with President Trump — or if you want to avoid his vengeance — come bearing gifts."
"Government officials and business leaders around the world have gotten the message and are strategizing about how to give Trump real or perceived wins to try to smooth out any relationship bumps with the new administration, and avoid economic or legal penalties," the report states.
The report goes as far as to state that, "Some privately have compared him to a mob boss: Tributes are required, and the shakedowns come with the full weight of the U.S. government."
"Many foreign and domestic corporations alike fear tariffs and potential changes to the tax code this year, and have tried to assuage Trump with offerings," Axios reports, noting that "Apple, Hyundai, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Nvidia, Softbank and more have announced large investments in the U.S. since Trump was elected in November."
"Some of those investments were already in the works, but splashy public announcements gave Trump the chance to boast that he was bringing business back to America," it states. "After Hyundai this week announced a $21 billion investment in the U.S., Trump praised the company and made clear what the company would get in return: 'Hyundai won't have to pay any tariffs.'"
The report goes on to note other offerings to Trump, including from the leader of Mexico as well as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, as well.
According to the report, "Trump and his team believe they're just using the levers of power in ways that other presidents didn't, but should have."
Read the full piece here.
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