30 January, 2026

In the aftermath of the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota by an ICE agent last Sunday, there was a chorus of public outcry. From the Obamas to Melinda Gates to Katy Perry, figures from politics, philanthropy and popular culture put out statements of outrage and calls to action.  

Big business entered the conversation too. The CEOs of over 60 large companies, including Target and General Mills, issued a joint letter calling for de-escalation of tensions. They didn’t go nearly as far as the likes of Barack and Michelle Obama, who called the killing “a wake-up call to every American, regardless of party, that many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault.” 

Instead, the tone and the language of the letter were measured, and it stopped short of condemning the shooting or calling for specific action. But the fact that they were willing to speak out is notable. 

Until now, the second Trump administration has seen many large US companies staying quiet on social and political issues, displaying caution about entering the fractured and often high-octane public debate. Silence, for many, has felt like the safest position. 

The decision to speak up, but to do so with guarded language reflects the complexity at play. Antagonising Trump is seen as substantial risk. But so is silence, when lines are crossed in such a significant way.  

The fact that multiple businesses joined force to issue the statement is also interesting – co-ordinated, collective action still takes courage, but it lowers the risk factor and potential cost. This makes it a sensible way forward. 

Business is inextricably linked with politics and society – arguably more now than ever. And its role and voice matters. Particularly if, as Mark Carney said at Davos, the world is “in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.” This doesn’t mean it should weigh in on every issue. But it does mean it has both the right and just cause to stand up for its beliefs, particularly where those interplay with the beacons of rules-based order, ethics and the most fundamental of human rights.

By Sirisha Venkatesh