back to article Tech titans hide in shadows awaiting Trump tariff threats

A eerie quiet has descended upon elements in the tech exec community, and even the typically more vocal souls in the highest seats in corporations are scared to put the wrong foot forward ahead of a certain President Elect coming to power. A hike in tariffs is one of the levers that Donald Trump has committed to pulling when …

  1. Mentat74
    Joke

    "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

    Elon Musk ?

    1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

      Peter Thiel

    2. codejunky Silver badge

      Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

      @Mentat74

      People are still wondering who is the current President. Even Biden.

    3. Eecahmap

      Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

      Only if there's a Schwarzenegger Amendment.

      1. Mentat74
        Coat

        Re: "Only if there's a Schwarzenegger Amendment."...

        I don't think so... Elon doesn't seem to like schwarzeneggers very much...

        1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

          Re: "Only if there's a Schwarzenegger Amendment."...

          Remember when "President Schwarzenegger" was horror movie nightmare joke rather than a dream option ?

          1. jdiebdhidbsusbvwbsidnsoskebid Silver badge

            Re: "Only if there's a Schwarzenegger Amendment."...

            "Remember when "President Schwarzenegger" was horror movie nightmare joke rather than a dream option ?"

            Remember when "President Trump" was a satirical alternative universe Simpsons gag rather than 8 year old history?

      2. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge
        Alert

        Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

        No need for a Schwarzenegger[Musk] Amendment if the Constitution has already been scrapped/suspended. Any way, no need for things to get to that - as long as Musk is allowed to play puppet master

        1. codejunky Silver badge

          Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

          @ Fruit and Nutcase

          "Musk is allowed to play puppet master"

          I have noticed some comments very recently saying President Musk and stupid thinks like that. There seems to be an odd mental breakdown going on from some people who seem to worry about Musks influence on President Trump, yet for 4 years and still current President Biden we dont know who is actually running things as Biden doesnt seem mentally capable and has had issues since his presidential campaign. Some suspect Obama was still running things and other theories but nobody seems to know.

          While I dont necessarily want Musk having too much say over Trumps term at least I am consistent.

          1. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

            consistent in supporting nazi bastards?

            1. codejunky Silver badge

              Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

              @AC

              "consistent in supporting nazi bastards?"

              Who?

              1. Anonymous Coward
                Anonymous Coward

                Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                "Who?"

                J.D. Couch

                1. codejunky Silver badge
                  WTF?

                  Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                  @AC

                  "J.D. Couch"

                  I had to look that up. Apparently there is some couch story that was made up by some lefty who didnt like Vance and just posted it online. Explains one oddity in this conversation.

                  I am not seeing the link to nazi though. Any information? And why are you a coward? Is it related to stupid comments?

                  1. Anonymous Coward
                    Anonymous Coward

                    Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                    J.D. said Trump was America's Hitler.

                    1. codejunky Silver badge
                      WTF?

                      Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                      @AC

                      "J.D. said Trump was America's Hitler."

                      How does that make J.D a nazi? You claimed I support nazi bastards, I asked who and you said J.D.

                      1. Rich 11

                        Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                        How does that make J.D a nazi?

                        Because JD now seems to be quite happy to be the right-hand man of America's Hitler. It's not like Trump has changed since then; if anything, he's got worse. It's more like JD no longer cares, or at best is putting his personal ambition ahead of any democratic principle. Personally, I think he expects Trump to kick the bucket while in office, so JD will get to become president. If that does happen and Vance steps back from Trump's policies, undoing the anti-democratic damage, then I'll concede that I was wrong about him.

                        1. codejunky Silver badge

                          Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                          @Rich 11

                          So were you the coward or are you joining in? Because that doesnt answer the cowards claim that Vance is a nazi.

                          "Because JD now seems to be quite happy to be the right-hand man of America's Hitler."

                          Or he was joining in the stupidity and insanity which we all know was bull.

                          "It's not like Trump has changed since then; if anything, he's got worse."

                          How?

                          "I think he expects Trump to kick the bucket"

                          I thought the same for Harris and Biden, except her duty is to take over if the President cant do his job and she didnt. Instead she covered up for Bidens mental handicap. I guess its hard to know the motives, but it still doesnt make Vance a nazi.

                          1. Anonymous Coward
                            Anonymous Coward

                            Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                            "but it still doesnt make Vance a nazi."

                            Is that the AfD defender, Vance, you are posting about? Or the Mark Robison supporting one?

                            1. codejunky Silver badge

                              Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                              @AC

                              "Is that the AfD defender, Vance, you are posting about? Or the Mark Robison supporting one?"

                              AfD are gaining popularity in Germany as a right wing party. Nazi was national socialist. And who is Mark Robinson? I looked and he seems to be some US governor?

                              1. Anonymous Coward
                                Anonymous Coward

                                Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                                "Nazi was national socialist."

                                Ah, that old chestnut. Right wingers disavowing the Nazis as "leftists".

                                Next they'll be claiming the Holy Roman Empire was a religious imperium centered on Italy.

                                1. codejunky Silver badge

                                  Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                                  @AC

                                  I have noticed the coward responds with anything but an answer. Assuming you are the same coward who claimed I am supporting nazi bastards you have failed to identify a nazi that I support.

                                  If your own comment is too complicated for you to answer we have clearly left your level of ability already.

                                  1. Anonymous Coward
                                    Anonymous Coward

                                    Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                                    AC is legion.

          2. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

            I have noticed some comments very recently saying President Musk and stupid thinks like that.

            They are silly. But there's no need to get one's panties in a bunch about it, Snowflake.

            1. codejunky Silver badge
              Megaphone

              Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

              @AC

              "They are silly. But there's no need to get one's panties in a bunch about it, Snowflake."

              Well said, you tell em. They still havnt got over losing the election.

              1. Anonymous Coward
                Anonymous Coward

                Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

                Well said, you tell em.

                em? Them? OK, have noted your preference for your non-gendered pronoun.

          3. Anonymous Coward
            Anonymous Coward

            Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

            Your consistency is baseless "we don't know who is running things!" Fox News spin.

            While 'stupid thinks' like President Musk may be mostly hyperbole, the man has a worrying amount of demonstrable influence over a president-elect - but ultimately I don't worry about that, at least not in this case. Musk's ego and Trump's ego will not live in the same space for too long - Trump psychologically cannot.

            I am amused at your post, however. You spout entirely baseless right-wing theories like 'is obama in charge' with a straight face and then claim superiority over your consistency. I'll give you that, you are consistent. Wrong and spouting crazy conspiracy theories consistently.

            I'd suggest taking a long hard look to see if being consistent is more important than actually having a decent, at least moderately sane take on politics.

            1. codejunky Silver badge

              Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

              @AC

              "Your consistency is baseless "we don't know who is running things!" Fox News spin."

              What spin? Remember Biden is running rings around his staff, no cognitive impairment and top of his game. Until he was in public and they couldnt hide it, now everyone and their dog knows Biden is not mentally capable of the job. So as we know Biden isnt running things who is?

              "President Musk may be mostly hyperbole, the man has a worrying amount of demonstrable influence over a president-elect"

              Ok, and we can agree that could be a potential problem maybe, but who has been running the show for Bidens term? We know it isnt Biden so who? Forget the hyperbole of President Musk, we dont know who has been the president for the last 4 years. The dems even needed the supreme court to explain the executive office to them when they went after Trump.

              "You spout entirely baseless right-wing theories like 'is obama in charge' with a straight face"

              And you are wrong. Read my comment. Not bias mis-parse it but read it. Some suspect Obama was still running things and other theories but nobody seems to know.. Its not a difficult read, I pointed out NOBODY KNOWS. I MENTIONED that there are theories out there but thats because NOBODY KNOWS.

              So back to the point that worrying over Musk isnt necessarily wrong, but worrying who ran the country for 4 years is very legitimate and been a concern for the last 4 years.

    4. Fruit and Nutcase Silver badge

      Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

      Washington Post cartoonist resigns over paper’s refusal to publish cartoon critical of Jeff Bezos

      Pulitzer prize winner Ann Telnaes had drawn a cartoon of the paper’s owner kneeling before Donald Trump

      https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jan/04/washington-post-cartoonist-resigns-jeff-bezos

      Ann Telnaes’s cartoon rejected by the Washington Post...

      https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jan/04/washington-post-cartoonist-resigns-jeff-bezos#img-2

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

        So they really are "All the President's Men"

      2. SundogUK Silver badge

        Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

        You try to publish a cartoon taking the piss out of your boss and you're puzzled that your boss doesn't like it? Grow up and smell what you're shovelling.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

          Its an editorial cartoon.

          Like all other editorial functions at a newspaper, its supposed to be an opinion. Political cartoons, in particular, are supposed to 'take the piss' out of someone, even if its the publication's owner. That's called editorial independence.

          When a newspaper decides that its boss's ego is more important than the editorial page, its not a newspaper anymore, its just a propaganda outlet.

          Similarly, if you buy a newspaper, particularly one that in the past had the strong reputation as the WaPo did, you shouldn't expect them to bend the knee in the editorial section.

          When you accept the idea that newspapers should be run to please their owners, you might as well simply give up on journalism.

          1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

            Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

            >Similarly, if you buy a newspaper, particularly one that in the past had the strong reputation as the WaPo did, you shouldn't expect them to bend the knee in the editorial section.

            But if we just print the same front page "All Hail Bezos" then there is a great saving in journalists and type-setting costs. Assuming we sell exactly the same number of copies and get the same advertising of course

      3. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: "fear of upsetting the next US President"...

        > Ann Telnaes’s cartoon rejected by the Washington Post...

        > https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/jan/04/washington-post-cartoonist-resigns-jeff-bezos#img-2

        Thanks for the link - I hadn't seen it before. Since it was due to be published on Epiphany (which is the celebration of the Magi visiting the new born baby Jesus) I was hoping it showed the 3 tech leads visiting a baby Trump being held in Musk's arms.

  2. Wang Cores

    "We won, great job boys."

    "Now what?"

    1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      Re: "We won, great job boys."

      A land of milk and honey, obviously !

  3. KittenHuffer Silver badge
    Joke

    Par for the course!

    A 60% price rise for Apple products .... their customers would be happy with that as it would be less than what they are used to!

    Remember that friends don't let friends buy iProducts!

  4. Dostoevsky Bronze badge

    Tariffs are bad.

    Adam Smith said so—he endorsed them only for national security, like 19th century Britain's shipbuilding industry, or as temporary bargaining chips.

    I'm thinking they're bargaining chips in this case. They'll probably be slashed within six months—just long enough to extract concessions from the PRC & co.

    1. Paul Crawford Silver badge

      Re: Tariffs are bad.

      They'll probably be slashed within six months—just long enough to extract concessions from the PRC & co.

      I wonder who will blink first, Xi to avoid more economic woes or Trump once his supporters see prices rocket (unlike the promises) and start revolting?

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: Tariffs are bad.

        - Your Majesty, I've come on the most urgent of business. It is said that the people are revolting.

        - You said it, they stink on ice.

        1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

          Re: Tariffs are bad.

          >Adam Smith said so

          Well that explains it. He was undeniably an expert in economics, and what have we had enough off ?

      2. SundogUK Silver badge

        Re: Tariffs are bad.

        Given the state of the Chinese economy, they're about to get a sharp lesson in realpolitik economics.

      3. Roj Blake Silver badge

        Re: Tariffs are bad.

        Trump will blink when Xi starts selling off his enormous stockpile of US dollars.

      4. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Tariffs are bad.

        start revolting?

        They are already fucking revolting!

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Tariffs are bad.

      Tariffs may be bad, but if the alternative is hollowing out your remaining industrial base, and importing wage deflation from near-slave economies, what would you propose?

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: Tariffs are bad.

        A 25% tariff on the country that supplies most of your fresh produce, together with expelling all your agricultural workers is an extreme solution to America's obesity crisis - but it's worth a try

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Tariffs are bad.

      Smith was also clear on the need for strong government to regulate business - his main concern was that otherwise capitalism naturally leads to monopolies and cartels.

  5. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

    "Being more diplomatic than the politicians"

    It would be pretty extreme to be less.

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

  6. This post has been deleted by its author

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    The sight of all the spineless BOHICA bros crawling back to Trump and Musk is nauseating.

  8. Mitoo Bobsworth Silver badge

    Easy fix

    Bribe Trump, tell him how wonderful he is = exemption.

    Result!

    1. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge

      Re: Easy fix

      That bribe will cost you $1B that's one bullion dollars.

      President Elon will not thank you if it is less.

      Any non Musk boot-licking billionaires will have already moved most of their wealth outside the USA and are keeping their heads down waiting for their new private jet to arrive. Buy in USA, sell abroad. A Great way to launder money legally.

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Trump doesn’t understand tariffs and the economy

    The guy’s been bankrupt more than once.

    He’s also a convicted financial fraud.

    He simply says what his base want to hear, he will do SFA.

    1. blu3b3rry

      Re: Trump doesn’t understand tariffs and the economy

      I'm not sure there are many things that The Orange One does understand, unless it involves where his next happy meal is.....

    2. Roj Blake Silver badge

      Re: Trump doesn’t understand tariffs and the economy

      It takes a special sort of genius to bankrupt a casino.

      Trump's done it more than once.

    3. spold Silver badge

      Re: Trump doesn’t understand tariffs and the economy

      I don't think he understands that any tariffs regarding the US and Canada will be a violation of the USMCA trade agreement ("NAFTA 2.0"). Under the provisions of that agreement the US will then be forfeit, I expect there will then be a battle between Canada and Mexico as to who gets it - a battle not to get it that is! :-)

      [Yes, obviously the provisions bit isn't true but the violation bit is and would also cause general trade chaos].

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    USA, home of the stupid, land of the coward

  11. This post has been deleted by its author

  12. Tron Silver badge

    Tariffs damage the country that imposes them.

    So the rest of us need Trump to be true to his word, and make them high. We get our tech from Japan and South Korea, who will sell less to the US and may want to discount.

    Only really stupid regimes will go tit for tat. Europe has populist neo Nazi parties gathering votes all over the place. If they impose reciprocal tariffs on the US, it won't cause Trump to back down but it will ramp up domestic inflation in countries that buy stuff from the US (that's LNG in the UK, so it will boost already artificially increased energy bills). Inflation is the ultimate regime killer. You can lie and spin all you want, but even really stupid people notice when everything costs more. That's what got Boris out in the end, the rampant inflation caused by Brexit taking down Sterling and the consequent ineffective but punishing interest rate rises. European governments have no margin for error and cannot allow prices to rise. Last nail in the coffin for their regimes.

    The tech CEOs are doing what anyone would when Glorious Leader threatens to take down their businesses - keeping their heads down, buying favours where possible, and hoping for the best. That's how it is everywhere, China, UK, US. It's more obvious in the UK because we have a Register of Members' Bribes, er, Register of Members' Interests, which documents the brown envelopes offered for favours. Apparently that makes it OK.

    We might assume that this is all trolling and threats to get a better deal, but you never know with Trump. I think GAFA are hopeful that President Musk has enough sway over the orange coffin-dodger. But who knows?

  13. breakfast Silver badge

    We have a name for that

    There is a reason why numerous tech execs are flocking to Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate for private dinner with the incoming president. Sergey Brin, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk have all dined there.

    It's class solidarity.

    1. codejunky Silver badge

      Re: We have a name for that

      @breakfast

      "It's class solidarity."

      Begging bowls out for influence.

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