Donald Trump has been tweeting again, this time about the idea of simplifying what corporations must report on their earnings. He supports moving from quarterly to semiannual earnings disclosures. This proposal aligns with his focus on business efficiency, as he believes it would “save money” and “allow managers to focus on properly running their companies.” The former president’s comments came as he continues to navigate high-stakes discussions regarding TikTok, the popular social media app owned by China’s ByteDance.
In a recent social media post, Trump called on companies to do away with quarterly earnings announcements. He argued that the existing cadence overwhelms businesses with reporting requirements, taking them away from actually running their business. It’s no surprise, then, that on policy with big business, Trump stays on brand. His goal is to make these operations run more efficiently, while facilitating economic development.
On April 4, Trump spurred speculation about TikTok’s fate by announcing a further reprieve on enforcing his anti-TikTok law. This delay is based on ByteDance’s willingness to sell its stake in the platform. The announcement is further evidence that the U.S. government is negotiating in bad faith with TikTok’s Chinese parent company. On Friday, Trump will be meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping to hammer out the details of any potential deal. This is such an important part of these discussions and such an important first step in addressing national security issues. Looking specifically at data privacy and foreign influence.
Trump’s administration had already successfully nudged Oracle to assume a prominent role in the still-proposed TikTok deal. This agreement has received perhaps the most media attention of any such deal due to its implications for U.S.-China relations and tech decoupling. The changing dynamic around TikTok has captured public attention as lawmakers, regulators, and others weigh the impact of a possible deal.
While Trump is busy trying to twist arms on business proposals and keep a TikTok deal alive, he is taking innovative steps to stop crime in Memphis, Tennessee. He moved federal resources into the area as a part of a surge initiative focused on addressing active local criminal enterprises. This move signals yet another step by his administration to support law enforcement and promote public safety.
Despite all of these positive developments, everything about Trump’s administration has gone according to plan. An appeals court just thwarted his efforts to fire Lisa Cook before the Federal Reserve convenes in September. This ruling is especially important because it shines a spotlight on growing stresses in the political-economy governance matrix.
Trump’s grip on the Republican party remains strong. This was evident from his 3-to-1 voting supermajority on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission regulating these issues, even with one seat currently still empty. His leadership style continues to shape discussions surrounding economic policy and corporate governance, particularly as he addresses pressing issues related to technology and international relations.