Would You Do Business With This Man?

TOP TEN REASONS TO "JUST SAY NO" TO TRUMP

I am proud to say that I have never voted for Donald Trump. While I am somewhat mystified why anyone did or would, a small part of my brain can excuse people in 2016 who did not like Hillary Clinton or wanted to “shake up Washington.” But after witnessing Trump’s bizarre antics, policies, and decision-making while in office, coupled with his horrible behavior since losing the presidency, there is no longer any excuse.

When I speak to Trump voters, I ask the same question: “Why?” I usually get a single-issue response. “I like his anti-abortion stance and his Supreme Court appointments.” “I like how he puts jobs ahead of the environment—climate change is a hoax.” “The country is too woke–America first, man!”  “He’s better for Israel.”  “I like his tax policy.”

All or most of this is nonsense or flawed reasoning, and most voters would disagree with these sentiments. However, this is America—voters don’t need to justify their reasons for voting the way they do. They have an absolute right to vote for the candidate of their choice. Many Trump voters are wealthy businessmen. I understand why CEOs of mining, pharmaceutical, real estate, or other mega-wealthy companies might prefer Trump. His “corporate welfare” policies appeal to their selfish tendencies.

They’d vote for him. But would they do business with him? If he was looking for a management position, would they hire him? Would they partner with him or invest in his business? The answers are all “hell no!” And if so, why dump him on the rest of us by voting for him? Let’s look further, shall we?

1. Leadership Style

We can agree that his leadership approach is a “my way or the highway,” top-down, authoritarian approach. In a corporate setting (or politics), modern companies emphasize collaborative leadership, teamwork, and inclusivity. While a leader makes the ultimate decision, he or she does so as a team leader after engaging with the rest of the team. Corporate (and political) leaders seek input and contrary opinions to gain consensus and to make team members feel valued and heard. Is Trump a good fit for this modern style of leadership?

Adding a leader like Trump would disrupt these inclusive dynamics. He’s bombastic, dominates conversations, prioritizes his opinions, and dismisses dissent. This would lead to a toxic work environment and undermine team morale and productivity in a modern corporate setting. While strong leadership is necessary, it should be balanced with the ability to listen, adapt, and collaborate—qualities contrary to Trump’s personality.

2. Long-Term or Short-Term Focus

Successful businesses are built on long-term vision and planning. Leaders must think strategically, anticipate market changes, and steer companies through opportunities and challenges. Trump is hot-headed, impulsive, and reactionary, focused on grabbing headlines and achieving quick wins. His approach is hardly one that could be called “measured.”

For example, Trump's tendency to take bold, sometimes impulsive actions—whether in politics or business—might be deemed too risky for a company that values stability and sustained growth. Trump’s decision-making style would introduce unnecessary volatility and risk.

3. Track Record and Accountability

A leader's track record is critical in business and (hopefully) politics. Companies rely on past performance to predict future success. Trump has enjoyed some business success, but his record includes multiple bankruptcies and business failures, lawsuits, quasi-criminal activity, civil adjudications for fraud and sexual misconduct, and a 34-count criminal conviction. His record would likely make him unemployable or prevent any sensible executive from seeking to do business with him.

Moreover, have we ever witnessed contrition from Trump? Has he ever apologized or admitted he was wrong? Business leaders must own their mistakes and learn from them. And if those mistakes lead to challenges, they must steer the company (or country) through with integrity. Trump’s steadfast refusal to deny responsibility and deflect blame to others is an absolute liability to any company looking for a new leader.  

4. Reputation and Brand Management

Is there anything more important in business than a company’s reputation?  Maintaining a positive public image is crucial for attracting customers, investors, and top talent. Trump is a chaos agent, a polarizing figure who utilizes personal insults and bullying tactics to make points and creates controversy everywhere he goes. Is he worth risking a company’s reputation?

Is it farfetched to suggest that Trump might alienate critical stakeholders, customers, investors, or employees who don’t align with his values or methods?  Businesses, talent, or investors could easily decide to go elsewhere. Controversy might generate media attention, but would the trade-off be worth the risk? I think not—the company’s bottom line is too important.

5. Ethical Considerations

Ethics do play a significant role in modern business practices. Consumers, employees, and the public are increasingly holding companies accountable for their ethical standards, including how they treat employees, their environmental impact, and their corporate governance. Trump's history, treatment of employees, and relationships with various stakeholders would raise ethical concerns for anyone in the business world.

A leader with a history of ethical controversies would damage a company’s reputation and lead to internal and external conflicts. Business leaders prioritize ethics and integrity in their decision-making process, knowing these values are critical for long-term success and sustainability.

Take his litigation history, for example. Aside from his multiple bankruptcies, which are an absolute red flag, he’s also been involved in numerous lawsuits, personally and professionally. These include lawsuits related to fraud, discrimination, contract disputes, and labor law violations. Trump University was sued for fraud, leading to a $25 million settlement. To a prospective employer or business partner, these legal issues indicate a leader who engages in unethical practices and/or cannot navigate legal and regulatory environments.

6. Selfish Interests

You may recall that when Trump was president, he failed to fully divest from his business, which led to accusations of conflicts of interest. What was more important, the country or his business? Given this history, a potential partner, investor, or employer would question his ability to prioritize the company’s interests over his own personal or financial gain. This history is a deal-breaker in a corporate environment, where conflicts of interest can lead to legal and ethical issues.

7. Allegations of Discrimination and Misconduct

Trump has faced multiple allegations of discriminatory behavior and sexual misconduct, including accusations of racism, sexism, and inappropriate conduct toward women. The controversies surrounding these incidents would significantly concern investors, potential partners, or employers. Modern companies focus on creating safe, inclusive, and respectful workplaces. Engaging someone with Trump’s history would be considered a risk to the company’s culture and reputation.

8. Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

Trump has a well-documented history of making false or misleading statements in business and politics. Fact-checking organizations have identified thousands of false or deceptive claims made by Trump during his presidency. In a business environment where trust and integrity are crucial, a CEO cannot afford to do business with someone with a reputation for dishonesty. Trust is fundamental in business relationships, whether with employees, clients, or partners, and a leader with a track record of untruthfulness could undermine that trust.

9. Too Controversial

Trump’s divisive rhetoric and the controversies surrounding his political career would alienate employees, customers, and business partners. Companies often seek to avoid public relations issues arising from doing business with a polarizing figure, especially one who could bring negative attention or lead to boycotts and protests. He used aggressive tactics to avoid paying contractors and suppliers, and his Trump Foundation was shut down amid allegations of misuse of funds. These practices would be considered unethical or unscrupulous, causing CEOs to question whether Trump’s approach aligns with their business values and practices.

10. Inconsistent Public Statements

Throughout his career, Trump has made numerous public statements that were later contradicted or reversed. This inconsistency can be problematic in a business environment where clear, consistent communication is essential. Business leaders cannot afford to risk their companies’ reputations on Trump’s tendencies to change positions or make contradictory statements that could create confusion and disrupt a company’s strategic direction.

Conclusion

While Donald Trump has achieved significant success in certain areas, his history of bankruptcies, legal issues, leadership style, conflicts of interest, and ethical controversies could raise substantial concerns for corporate leaders. These factors, combined with his polarizing public persona and reputation for untruthfulness, would lead prospective employers to conclude that he is not a suitable candidate for a leadership position within their company. The risk of potential legal, ethical, and reputational issues and concerns about workplace culture and stability would likely outweigh any perceived benefits of adding someone with Trump’s profile and experience. Why does he appeal to some 42% of our country’s voters? It’s a mystery to me, but his antics would cause any corporate leader to “just say no.”