The CEOs may be reticent to point a finger at Trump could be for many reasons. They may not want to give him more attention, for one. As Google’s Pichai wrote, “I debated whether to post this, because lately it seems that criticism of intolerance just gives more oxygen to this debate.”
Or they may believe that the views of some other GOP candidates aren’t that far off from Trump’s. Sen Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) has suggested, for example, that there be a religious test for incoming Syrian refugees, saying “there is no meaningful risk of Christians committing acts of terror.”
Meanwhile they may also recognize that the likelihood of such a ban on one religious group from entering this country is still extremely remote. Earlier this year, CEOs like Salesforce’s Marc Benioff and Marriott’s Arne Sorenson spoke out in force against laws that had been passed or were pending approval that would make it legal for businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians. But for this ban against a religious group of foreigners Trump would first have to be elected and then it would still have to pass legal muster.
Finally Bloomberg reported Friday that CEOs may be staying relatively quiet because they worry about alienating people.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member