Lobbying

Survey: Three-quarters of CEOs have apologized to global partners for Trump’s rhetoric

Three-quarters of American executives and CEOs said they’ve apologized to international partners about President Trump’s rhetoric, according to a new survey released on Monday

The survey followed last week’s CEO summit of business, academic and government leaders hosted by the Yale School of Management’s Chief Executive Leadership Institute (CELI).

{mosads}Seventy-five percent of respondents said they “often” find themselves apologizing to their international business partners because of Trump’s messaging.

The majority of attendees — 88 percent — said that the way Trump negotiates with other nations has caused the U.S. to lose trust among its allies.  Additionally, 67 percent of those surveyed said Trump is not effective at leading U.S. national security.

Attendees also said Trump was outmaneuvered during his high-profile meetings with North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment from The Hill.

Jefrey Sonnenfeld, who leads the Yale School of Management, said it was astounding that Trump is being condemned by the nation’s top leaders despite his history as a prominent New York businessman.

Sonnenfeld said in a statement it was likely due to Trump’s “dysfunctional negotiating style.”

“They’re very discouraged,” Sonnenfeld also told The Washington Post.  “That divisiveness of pitting people against each other all the time has really worn the business community down.”

Nearly half — 48 percent —  of respondents also said that they are worried that the U.S. will be in recession by the end of 2019.

The greatest threats to U.S. financial markers are U.S. political instability and trade negotiations, according to 67 percent of those surveyed.

The survey was conducted among more than 110 CEOs, nonprofit and government leaders and is not a random sample of insight from the business community, The Post noted.