WHOA Washington's Biggest Lobbyist, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Gets Shut Out

A month before his inauguration, and shortly after he had finished a round of golf with Tiger Woods, Donald Trump was introduced to an adviser of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the chief advocacy group for American corporations.

Stanton Anderson stood in the clubhouse of Mr. Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Fla., and extended his hand to the president-elect.

Mr. Trump refused it.

“You guys did everything to stop me,” Mr. Trump said, his face reddening, according to two people who were there. “I haven’t forgotten.

In the two years since, relations between Mr. Trump and Washington’s biggest lobbying organization haven’t much improved.

The chill has hurt the U.S. Chamber, which for decades was the unmatched voice of industry. Its revenue has dipped, spending on lobbying and elections has fallen, and its large-donor pool has shrunk.

Washington's Biggest Lobbyist, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Gets Shut Out

Chilly relations with both the White House and congressional Democrats leaves the chief advocacy group for U.S. corporations struggling to adapt to changing politics and shift in the U.S. economy.