Andrew Ross Sorkin

I think I talked to over two dozen CEOs over the weekend, and I would tell you that virtually all of them had tried to call the president, Howard Lutnick, Peter Navarro, or somebody else in the administration across the board. They have been rushing to try to get in his ear. But I don't think that CEOs are calling him saying, Mr. President, you have made a terrible, terrible error.

I think I talked to over two dozen CEOs over the weekend, and I would tell you that virtually all of them had tried to call the president, Howard Lutnick, Peter Navarro, or somebody else in the administration across the board. They have been rushing to try to get in his ear. But I don't think that CEOs are calling him saying, Mr. President, you have made a terrible, terrible error.

That's what they think. They think it's a terrible, terrible error. I don't know of a CEO who does not think it is a terrible, terrible error. Some of them like to use the phrase unforced error. However, I think that the phone call is a little different. The phone call is, Mr. President, let me tell you what's going on with my company right now.

That's what they think. They think it's a terrible, terrible error. I don't know of a CEO who does not think it is a terrible, terrible error. Some of them like to use the phrase unforced error. However, I think that the phone call is a little different. The phone call is, Mr. President, let me tell you what's going on with my company right now.

Let me tell you about all the problems that this is creating. Let me tell you about all of the employees I was hoping to hire and be able to put out a press release and say that you were responsible for it.

Let me tell you about all the problems that this is creating. Let me tell you about all of the employees I was hoping to hire and be able to put out a press release and say that you were responsible for it.

Help me help you. I think that is the way... The CEO community is trying to position themselves with this president because I think if you go straight at him, publicly or privately, the phone call ends quickly.

Help me help you. I think that is the way... The CEO community is trying to position themselves with this president because I think if you go straight at him, publicly or privately, the phone call ends quickly.

But I want to stop you for a moment because he then put out tweets this morning. effectively apologizing for some of his earlier comments about Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary.

But I want to stop you for a moment because he then put out tweets this morning. effectively apologizing for some of his earlier comments about Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary.

And I think that's indicative of what so many... senior executives are thinking about, which is, what can I say publicly, especially if I want to have access privately?

And I think that's indicative of what so many... senior executives are thinking about, which is, what can I say publicly, especially if I want to have access privately?

The whole idea that if you had a lot of money, you were somehow protected, or that you would feel compelled and feel emboldened to stand up, so far has not been the case.

The whole idea that if you had a lot of money, you were somehow protected, or that you would feel compelled and feel emboldened to stand up, so far has not been the case.

There's no question that Elon Musk differs from the president on tariffs. But I think he, unlike so many of the other executives in America, feels like he has a special license to create some daylight on certain types of issues. And so I think in many ways, Elon Musk is just closer to the Scott Bessons of the world who say this is a

There's no question that Elon Musk differs from the president on tariffs. But I think he, unlike so many of the other executives in America, feels like he has a special license to create some daylight on certain types of issues. And so I think in many ways, Elon Musk is just closer to the Scott Bessons of the world who say this is a

great way to negotiate with other countries to get their tariffs to go to zero.

great way to negotiate with other countries to get their tariffs to go to zero.

In this very moment, I would tell you the majority of business leaders is saying, you know what, I'm going to wait this out. I'm going to play chicken with the president. I'm going to see what happens with the stock market. If the stock market continues to go lower, it will likely put more pressure on the president and Congress and the Senate to somehow undo these tariffs.

In this very moment, I would tell you the majority of business leaders is saying, you know what, I'm going to wait this out. I'm going to play chicken with the president. I'm going to see what happens with the stock market. If the stock market continues to go lower, it will likely put more pressure on the president and Congress and the Senate to somehow undo these tariffs.