President Donald Trump raised eyebrows among his America First base Wednesday when he showered praise on BlackRock CEO Larry Fink during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos – the same globalist gathering Trump has repeatedly criticized.
"Everything Larry touches turns to gold," Trump declared about the man who has been the driving force behind Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing that has pushed woke policies on American corporations. "He made this [forum] very successful."
This is the same Larry Fink who has used BlackRock's $10 trillion in assets under management to force companies to embrace climate change initiatives, diversity quotas, and other progressive policies that conservatives have been fighting against for years.
The ESG Kingpin Gets Trump's Blessing
Fink has been public enemy number one for many conservatives who see ESG investing as a backdoor way to implement the left's agenda through corporate boardrooms instead of the ballot box. BlackRock has pressured companies to reduce carbon emissions, increase diversity hiring, and adopt other policies that prioritize social justice over shareholder returns.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pulled $2 billion in state investments from BlackRock over these very policies. Texas and other red states have taken similar action, recognizing that Fink's firm was weaponizing capitalism against conservative values.
"Why is Trump praising the man who turned American corporations into foot soldiers for the woke mob?" asked one prominent conservative commentator on social media.
The timing couldn't be more puzzling. Trump has spent years railing against the "America Last" policies of global elites, yet here he was at their premier gathering, celebrating one of their leading figures.
Patriots Deserve Answers
Trump's base didn't vote for him to cozy up to the architects of woke capitalism. They voted to drain the swamp, not praise the swamp creatures who have been using their financial power to undermine conservative values.
Is this part of some larger strategy we don't see yet? Or has the President been influenced by advisors who don't understand the threat ESG poses to American freedom? Patriots deserve to know why their champion is championing their opponent.