Corporate America in panic mode as CEOs launch war rooms and hotlines over Trump’s executive order blitz

America’s biggest corporations can’t keep up with Donald Trump’s quickfire start to his second term and are working round the clock to catch up with the president. 

Trump has gotten straight to work, signing dozens of executive orders, launching a $500 billion AI venture and firing thousands of White House staffers.   

For several reasons, the corporate elite are preparing to deal with the president’s often chaotic nature and some bills that could affect their businesses.

JPMorgan Chase, whose CEO Jamie Dimon has had back-channel communications with Trump in late 2024, has launched a ‘war room’ to deal with the president. 

Staff members have been encouraged to study Trump’s many executive orders and then send their analysis straight to Dimon.

Bank of America and Citigroup are launching similar rooms to help their international business understand everything.

Some corporations are preparing for Trump’s promised mass deportation program by establishing contacts with a legal hotline.

Fisher Phillips, a top lawn firm, says many companies have tapped into their rapid-response immigration team, with some worried that they may be raided by immigration enforcement. 

JPMorgan Chase, whose CEO Jamie Dimon has had back-channel communications with Trump in late 2024, has launched a ‘war room’ to deal with the president 

‘We’re already getting calls,’ said firm immigration co-chair Shannon Stevenson of the 24-hour hotline. ‘That’s only likely to increase.’ 

Clients – who range from construction firms to healthcare workers – have been given a specific number that they can call at the firm to deal with a surprise raid.

Some have even conducted special training sessions or posted guides to dealing with a raid at their offices. 

One law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, launched a blog tracking Trump’s various executive orders. 

At least one company, 3M, is worried about the president’s plan to begin putting tariffs on Mexico and Canada, where half of their imports come from.  

‘We’re watching it very, very carefully, but we have a lot of operational levers that we can pull,’ CEO Bill Brown said. ‘We have a lot of factories in the U.S., and we can flex them and maybe bring some of that product back to the U.S.’

As the World Economic Forum´s annual gabfest in the Swiss Alps got into full swing on Tuesday, Trump gave everybody something to talk about with his actions on his first day back in office.

Energy industry executives could consider Trump’s vow to ‘drill, baby, drill.’ Foreign leaders deciphered what he meant by his wish to expand U.S. territory. 

At least one company, 3M, is worried about the president’s plan to begin putting tariffs on Mexico and Canada, where half of their imports come from. ‘We’re watching it very, very carefully, but we have a lot of operational levers that we can pull,’ CEO Bill Brown (pictured) said

Trade advocates digested the unveiling of his ‘External Revenue Service’ to collect tariffs and duties – a concern for many business leaders at the elite gathering.

From the earliest speeches Tuesday, panel discussions and back-channel meetings in the town of Davos, Trump´s executive orders and evocative oratory were setting tongues wagging.

‘Here I am,’ said Donald Trump as season two of his presidency began Monday.

‘The American people have spoken.’

Since then he has been a man in a hurry. In his first half day he delivered two more speeches, attended three inaugural balls and, in yet another Trumpian break with tradition, answering journalists’ question while signing a slate of executive orders in the Oval Office.

He faces a race against the deadline facing all presidents: The moment he becomes a lame duck.

Trump showed how he plans to tackle it during his first full day in office on Tuesday (episode two), simply swamping the media with an avalanche of events and headlines.

He went to church, met his congressional leadership team and unveiled plans for a huge AI venture, all before discussing everything from TikTok to Jan. 6 pardons in a question and answer session with reporters.

Donald Trump has publicly fired several senior workers in an unprecedented shake-up

President Donald Trump used his Truth Social platform to start the day with action

But Tuesday’s news began in the most Trumpian way possible, with an early morning firing by social media post.

Reporters who got used to the leisurely pace of the Biden White House get their first reminder that Trump operates on a different clock.

Phones buzz at 28 minutes past midnight. Inauguration day is technically over but the president is dropping messages on his Truth Social platform.

This one announces that the White House personnel office is combing through lists of Biden appointees and names the first four to be fired, including some high-profile critics.