Consider This from NPR Trump is rewriting the rules of the economy…is it ‘crony capitalism’?
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Jan 19, 2026 
Maria Aspan, NPR financial correspondent, delves into President Trump's controversial economic tactics, including government stakes in companies like Intel and NVIDIA. She discusses the pressures CEOs face while having to publicly support a president whose interventions blur the lines between business and government. This approach raises concerns about crony capitalism and innovative incentives, leading to a potential destabilization of the market. Aspan highlights the risks of this shift and what it means for the future of corporate America.
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Government Buying Stakes In Tech Firms
- The Trump administration has taken direct equity stakes in companies like Intel and is pressing firms like NVIDIA for revenue cuts related to China.
- Maria Aspan frames this as a major shift from U.S. tradition of not owning stakes in private companies.
Trump's Demand For 10% Of Intel
- President Trump publicly threatened Intel CEO Lip Bu Tan and then suggested the U.S. should get 10% of Intel.
- That interaction led to the government acquiring a stake in Intel, illustrating personal leverage.
Political Favoritism Undermines Market Incentives
- Experts warn that when government picks winners, firms compete for political access rather than innovation.
- Anne Lipton and others say this undermines incentives, hurting innovation, investment, and job creation.