Bold Names How Corning Is Using Trump’s Tariffs To Its Advantage
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Jan 16, 2026 
Wendell Weeks, CEO of Corning Incorporated, shares insights on his company's strategic approach to technology and manufacturing. He discusses the resilience of Corning during the telecom boom and its recovery from near-bankruptcy. Weeks emphasizes long-term R&D investments over immediate profits, highlighting their new U.S. solar manufacturing plant. He explains how the tariffs from the Trump administration benefit Corning's vertically integrated supply chain, allowing them to compete effectively while promoting American manufacturing.
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Dot‑Com Near‑Death And Recovery
- Wendell Weeks recounts Corning's near-death during the dot-com crash when fiber-optics revenue collapsed and stock fell to about $1.50.
- He describes painful layoffs and a company-wide reflection to ensure Corning could survive another 150 years.
Preserve Talent Over Short‑Term Returns
- Weeks says Corning honored a social contract with employees and chose to keep people rather than cut deeper during downturns.
- He accepted lower short-term returns to preserve talent and continue long-term innovation.
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles
- Invest through cycles and be willing to be misunderstood to capture long-term technological opportunities like Gen AI and solar.
- Maintain R&D and capacity when markets are down to benefit from the next growth phase.