Published
January 20, 2017
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has a new neighbor: President Donald Trump. The business community looks forward to working closely with the newly elected president, his Cabinet, and the new Congress to advance shared priorities centered on economic growth.
Our close proximity as neighbors—the Chamber’s headquarters is located right across Lafayette Square from the White House—has helped us forge productive relationships with previous administrations. Since our founding in 1912 under President Taft, most presidents have either walked across the park and visited the Chamber or spoken at one of our events.
We also aren’t shy about using our location to deliver important messages. For years we had an enormous “JOBS” banner emblazoned across the front of our building so that the president and his staff could look out of the White House’s windows every day and get a clear reminder of what their focus should be.
We have been encouraged by President Trump’s strong focus on growth—our overriding priority. And we agree on many of the big ideas the administration has committed to pursuing, including regulatory relief and reform, a tax overhaul, and modernization of America’s infrastructure. As a businessman himself, we’re confident that he will operate in the best interests of free enterprise. But when we don’t agree with a position he takes, we won’t hesitate to say so.
We have been encouraged by President Trump’s strong focus on growth—our overriding priority.
In addition, we are optimistic about the team the president has assembled. His appointment of successful business leaders to key Cabinet posts further signals his respect for free enterprise and commitment to economic growth. The expertise each nominee has in his or her respective area of focus reflects President Trump’s thoughtful and serious approach to delivering much-needed reforms to each federal government agency. The Chamber looks forward to working with these nominees to turn back overregulation, promote international trade, expand American energy, and so much more.
As we welcome our new president to the neighborhood, we do so with optimism as well as a realistic outlook of the hard work that lies ahead. Our new government brings ample opportunities to pursue reforms that lead to stronger, faster economic growth. Seizing these opportunities, however, will be neither easy nor simple. All of the topics that must be addressed—from health care to taxes to regulations—are interrelated and complicated. The Chamber stands ready to assist our new president and Congress in navigating these issues and pursuing an exciting agenda that will spark dynamic, broad-based economic growth.
About the authors
Thomas J. Donohue
Thomas J. Donohue is advisor and former chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
