Trump Administration Develops Corporate “Scorecard”
The Trump administration is said to have produced a “scorecard” to distinguish between supportive corporate allies and those viewed as opportunists, according to a report from Axios.
This scorecard assesses companies based on various metrics, including their social media activity, press statements, testimonies, advertisements, and participation in White House events tied to a significant legislative initiative. The intention behind these rankings is to help officials determine who genuinely supports the administration versus those who merely offer verbal support without real backing.
Companies are classified based on their level of support for President Donald Trump’s policies, categorized as strong, moderate, or low. Notable strong supporters identified include Uber, DoorDash, United Airlines, Delta, AT&T, Cisco, and the Airlines for America organization. The White House has officially recognized this group as supporters of the proposed legislation.
These corporations have commended certain aspects of the settlement bill, like provisions that eliminate taxes on tips and offer tax credits along with incentives for research and development.
For instance, Uber expressed its backing for the bill, emphasizing the importance of allowing drivers and couriers to keep all of their tips, which, they argue, will assist millions of American workers amid rising living costs.
The scorecard is expected to be regularly updated, reflecting changes in corporate alignment with Trump administration policies. A White House official mentioned that if a company increases its support due to new tax measures or shifts in management goals, that would also factor into their scoring.
Interestingly, since taking office, Trump has often intertwined his policy goals with the actions of private businesses.
In July, the government agreed to allow Nvidia to export H20 chips to China after lobbying from CEO Jensen Huang, which also included the government receiving a portion of the profits from these sales. This move has drawn criticism from some who feel it benefits adversaries with access to valuable U.S. technology.
Additionally, discussions are reportedly ongoing regarding potential government investments in chip manufacturers, including Intel, indicating a shift in Trump’s previous stance towards its CEO.
In a transaction completed in June, the Trump administration undertook a deal to sell steel to Japanese companies, all while rebuffing federal oversight on certain business actions. Moreover, the Department of Defense recently became the largest stakeholder in a mining firm, MP Materials.
