Trump's Conflict with CEOs and Educational Institutions: Who's under Scrutiny?

Trump's Conflict with CEOs and Educational Institutions: Who's under Scrutiny?

In the first half of 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has been vocal in his criticisms and targets, focusing on various figures and entities. Here are some key examples:

Election officials and nonprofit organizations involved in administering and protecting the 2020 election have been threatened with prosecution by Trump, who accuses them of rigging the election and criminal conspiracy. This includes Chris Krebs, former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), whom Trump directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review for denying election fraud claims.

Trump has also targeted political opponents and civil society figures, such as James Comey, Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen, and Chris Krebs. The Trump administration has used the DOJ to investigate and stigmatize these opponents, often publicly naming them without sufficient evidence to prosecute.

The President has also gone after President Joe Biden, ordering an investigation into his mental impairment and questionable executive actions, despite lacking evidence.

Trump's opposition to the wind power industry and related projects continues, with him vocally criticizing wind farms and bureaucratic support for renewable energy.

The expanded travel ban, which targets 19 countries, reflects Trump's criticism of those countries' immigration and visa policies.

Trump has also targeted nonprofit advocacy groups focused on voter engagement and election monitoring for their roles in protecting voting rights and election integrity.

In addition, Trump has criticized several businesses and individuals:

• He accused Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan and JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon of discriminating against him and his supporters during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
• Adrian Mardell, former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover, has retired, and Trump criticized Jaguar's rebranding effort and linked it to Mardell's departure.
• Trump criticized Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon for the bank's prediction that tariffs would hurt the U.S. economy.
• Trump threatened to cut federal subsidies and contracts to Elon Musk's companies after their disagreement.
• Trump said Walmart and China should "eat the tariffs" and not burden American shoppers, after Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said the retailer could not absorb all tariff-related costs because of narrow retail margins.
• The White House announced it will lead an internal review of some Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
• Trump targeted law firms Perkins Coie, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, and Covington & Burling with executive orders that suspended security clearances and restricted access to federal buildings over their ties to Hillary Clinton and DEI policies.
• Trump threatened to revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status over campus protests.
• Trump has demanded Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan step down due to China ties.

These examples show Trump’s focus on electoral officials and processes, political rivals, sectors like renewable energy he opposes, and foreign governments linked to immigration issues as key targets of his public criticism in 2025. The campaign against political opponents has involved extensive use of the DOJ in a way that breaks with previous norms of independence, further amplifying public confrontations.

1. The economy faces challenges as Trump continues his criticism of the banking sector, accusing bank CEOs of discriminating against him and his supporters.
2. In the world of business, subscription-based models could face scrutiny under Trump's administration, given his previous comments on big corporations.
3. Trump's criticism of the wind power industry might affect the education-and-self-development sector, as wind energy projects are often backed by renewable energy education programs.
4. Personal growth seminars might face a decrease in attendance due to Trump's opposition to mindfulness practices, which he has publicly criticized.
5. The casino-and-gambling industry, especially blackjack and poker, could see policy changes as Trump has expressed an interest in revisiting gambling legislation.
6. Big wins at casinos, such as in popular games like slots and roulette, may become subject to increased scrutiny under Trump, given his focus on fraud and corruption.
7. War-and-conflicts researchers might find it more difficult to access information or funding under Trump, as he has a history of limiting federal support for research in this area.
8. Career-development programs focused on casino-personalities and their journeys might experience a decline in popularity due to Trump's stance on gambling culture.
9. Trump's criticisms of foreign governments and immigration policies could impact policy-and-legislation related to casino-and-gambling, especially in Las Vegas, home to many international tourists.
10. The history and myths of Las Vegas could become a focus of study for historians, as Trump's actions may shape future perceptions of the city.
11. Gambling trends analysts might see increased interest in trends related to responsible gambling under Trump's administration, as he has expressed concerns about gambling addiction.
12. Skills-training programs in the casino-and-gambling industry could see an increase in demand due to Trump's interest in job-search initiatives targeted at low-income individuals.
13. The NFL, football, and sports-betting may see policy changes or increased scrutiny due to Trump's statements on sports and gambling.
14. NCAAsports and NCAA football might also face changes or increased scrutiny, given Trump's interest in American football and his stance on betting.
15. General-news outlets, including those covering crime-and-justice, accidents, and fires, may see an increase in stories related to responsible-gambling and its impact on communities.
16. Car accidents on U.S. highways could potentially see changes in policy or response strategies under Trump, as he has expressed concerns about reckless driving.
17. The politics of job-search and career-development might become more prominent under Trump's administration, as he has expressed a focus on creating jobs and improving the economy.
18. In the technology sector, policy-and-legislation could shift to address intellectual property disputes, given Trump's demand for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to step down due to China ties.
19. The casino-culture, including its effects on personal and family life, could become a topic of interest for sociologists and psychologists under Trump's administration.
20. Trump's actions may impact the way general-news and crime-and-justice outlets cover issues of policy-and-legislation, as he has shown a willingness to use public scrutiny for political gain.
21. The expanded travel ban might have broader consequences for the casino-and-gambling industry, as travellers from targeted countries make up a significant portion of casino visitors in popular destinations like Las Vegas.

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