Trump's Fierce Showdown with CEOs and Giants Rocks America’s Business and Universities

Trump's Fierce Showdown with CEOs and Giants Rocks America’s Business and Universities

August 14, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump is turning up the heat on top bosses and big organizations like never before. His bold moves—from shaking export deals to freezing university funds—are stirring a storm in business, law, and schools across America. Earlier this week, Trump slammed Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon for warning that tariffs might hurt the U.S. economy. Trump fired back on Truth Social, saying "David Solomon and Goldman Sachs refuse to give credit where credit is due" and blamed foreign companies and governments for bearing the tariff costs. He even poked fun at Solomon’s past as a DJ! Intel’s CEO Lip-Bu Tan also faced Trump’s wrath over his investments in Chinese firms linked to the military. Trump declared on Truth Social, "The CEO of INTEL is highly CONFLICTED and must resign, immediately." Tan defended himself, affirming his commitment to U.S. security, and Trump later praised Tan after a meeting. Then there’s Tesla’s Elon Musk, once a Trump ally who helped fund his campaign. Their relationship went downhill when Musk criticized Trump’s tax and spending bill. Trump got furious, threatening to cut subsidies and calling Musk "just went CRAZY" after losing the EV mandate. Trump even bashed Jaguar Land Rover's former CEO Adrian Mardell and the company’s "woke" rebranding efforts, linking them to Mardell’s departure. The British car brand, now owned by India’s Tata Motors, had sparked fierce online reactions with its new electric-focused look. Apple and its CEO Tim Cook aren’t safe either. Trump slammed Apple for making iPhones outside the US and pressured Cook to keep production domestic. Yet, Apple promised a $100 billion U.S. investment over four years, and Cook gifted Trump a gold-based souvenir recently. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos got a call from Trump about tariffs showing up on prices, but the company quickly dropped the idea amid White House criticism. Trump later praised Bezos for handling the matter "very nicely." The president also accused Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase bosses of discrimination against conservatives, urging them to "open your bank to conservatives." Both banks denied the claims. In May, Trump attacked Walmart for blaming tariffs on price hikes, saying, "Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected," and told the retailer to "eat the tariffs." Trump’s crackdown extends to culture and education too. He accused Smithsonian museums of pushing "divisive, race-centered ideology" and ordered a review. Harvard lost about $2.5 billion in federal grants after Trump labeled it "radical left" and antisemitic, threatening to take away its tax-exempt status. Columbia University also faced punishment for student protests, losing $400 million in federal funds. Trump warned of more arrests over "pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity." Columbia later agreed to pay over $200 million in a government settlement. Law firms tied to Hillary Clinton and government investigations also came under fire. Trump suspended clearances and access for employees of firms like Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling, vowing to hold those behind "weaponization of government" accountable. Whether it’s banks, tech giants, automakers, or universities, Trump’s whirlwind of sharp words and tough actions is shaking the pillars of American power like never before. Stay tuned as the battle rages on!

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Tags: Donald trump, Corporate criticism, Goldman sachs, Intel, Tesla, Apple, Universities,

Georgianna Drews

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