Consumer Technology Association CEO Gary Shapiro watched five of America’s top tech leaders with front-row seat at President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January, calling the occasion “one of the highlight moments” of his career.
During a recent interview with The Daily Signal, Shapiro praised Trump’s regulatory rollbacks while expressing concerns about his tariff policies. But he minced no words when drawing a contrast with the “four years of hell under President Biden,” which he characterized as “anti-business” and “anti-technology.”
“President Trump really rolled back a lot of the burden of regulation that was choking innovation, choking our economy, choking our country,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro leads an organization representing over 1,200 U.S. technology companies and hosts CES, the world’s largest innovation event, drawing 140,000 attendees annually to Las Vegas.
Nearly 100 days since taking office in front of those five tech CEOs, Shapiro said Trump’s policies are contributing to innovation. He warned, however, that the administration’s tariffs could hamper growth.
“Tariffs are taxes,” he argued. “They’re not paid for by some other country or some other company. They’re paid for by the people who buy the products.”
Overall, Shapiro praised several Trump administration initiatives, including the focus on cutting government spending through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, which he called “brutal” but having “the right intentions.”
With an eye on China, Shapiro emphasized the importance of the United States’ maintaining its competitive edge. He noted China’s strategic investments in artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing, warning that U.S. policymakers must create an environment that attracts top talent and fosters innovation.
As the author of the book “Pivot or Die,” Shapiro stressed the importance of businesses being able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, citing Darwin: “It’s not the fastest. It’s not the strongest. It’s those that adapt the quickest.”
