Shapiro Sees ‘Silver Lining' in Trump Presidency's Potential to Help Tech Sector

CTA President Gary Shapiro can’t sit back and placate critics of President-elect Donald Trump who “would have me spend the next four years just waiting for a new president,” he said in a Tuesday LinkedIn post in which he expressed hope that Trump's acumen as a business leader will be the "silver lining" of his presidency. To help the tech industry succeed, “we need the right public policies in place,” Shapiro said. “So I must identify opportunities to work with the incoming Trump administration to promote innovation, grow the economy, create high-wage jobs and collaborate on pro-tech policies.” Shapiro, after months of harshly criticizing Trump the candidate (see 1611090038), said he has been surprised “at the vitriol on social media” expressed about his public tweets and commentaries warming to “the positive actions a Trump presidency can produce,” he said. “America has voted, and I choose to be optimistic and see a positive path forward, especially regarding the economy.” Shapiro “genuinely” wants to work with the Trump administration “to foster our industry and build products and services that change our world for the better,” he said. Trump’s Dec.14 outreach to tech leaders in which the president-elect struck a conciliatory tone (see 1612140060) “underscores his commitment to working with our industry -- not against it,” Shapiro said.