How CEOs Are Navigating Trump

Good morning, Keira here reporting from Sydney. President Donald Trump is dominating headlines again this morning. Corporate America’s entering the second year of his second term with a new, hard-won understanding: his personal interventions can have as much impact on business as any economic force. Across the ditch, the NZ government’s one of a number of smaller export-heavy economies walking a fine line to maintain cordial relations with the administration. — Keira Wright, energy reporter.

More on Trump: He’s spent the first year of his second term blowing past the norms that have traditionally governed relations between the Oval Office and titans of industry. But there’s signs that some executives are starting to push back. Meanwhile, top US banks are reporting results that back up last-year’s big run-up in their shares, but investors are now worried a populist turn by the president could cut the party short.

Trump’s moved to set up a new process to secure access to imports of critical minerals, capping a months-long review to determine whether foreign shipments threaten US national security. Separately, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X that he lauded Australia’s “commitment to a strong, action-oriented partnership to create long-term secure critical minerals supply chains” during a Monday meeting with Treasurer Jim Chalmers.