US President Donald Trump, with Larry Ellison, Masayoshi Son and Sam Altman during a news conference at the White House on Jan. 21.
Photographer: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Trump’s $1.6 Trillion Corporate Pledge Parade: What’s Real, What’s Not
Business leaders have pledged at least $1.6 trillion in US spending since Trump was elected to a second term as president. If history is any guide, not all of it will materialize.
Masayoshi Son, founder of the prolific investor Softbank Group Corp. and the third-richest person in Japan, was in the middle of pledging $100 billion in US investments alongside Donald Trump at his private club in Florida when the incoming US president interrupted him. “Would you make it $200 billion?” Trump asked him, turning to reporters at the December event. “Believe it or not, he can actually afford to do that.”
Son, known as Masa to some, broke out in laughter, called Trump a “great negotiator” and patted him on the back. Trump barely broke a smile. “$200 billion,” he repeated.