During Donald Trump's presidency, there was a stock market decline and a rise in unemployment, reflecting economic uncertainty in his initial month in office. CEO optimism has waned due to the unpredictability of President Trump's policies, such as tariff threats, which disrupt business planning. Nick Nigro from Atlas Public Policy noted that businesses are having a difficult time navigating the turbulent environment under the new administration. On a positive note, the Conference Board highlighted an increase in CEO confidence in the first quarter of 2025, driven by expectations of business-friendly policies.