Elon Musk, Scott Bessent, and Howard Lutnick will be among the big corporate leaders in Donald Trump’s Washington. They’ve all got the inside track.
Then there are the traditional, big sectors represented by another major heavyweight: the United States Chamber of Commerce, which has long been a solid Republican Party partner.
However, it is no secret that the Chamber’s relationship with the Republican Party has deteriorated over time.
Some of it is political. Part of it is due to policy.
But, overall, the Chamber is now facing a major challenge: In January, Trump, a populist president promising new tariffs and pro-union measures, will be sworn in with a mandate for change. Meanwhile, Congress is likely to pass a series of major bills addressing some of the Chamber’s most pressing issues, including taxes, energy permits, and immigration.
Will the Chamber even have a place at the table? Not until someone can resolve their recent feud with Republicans. So, how do you repair this?
It all starts with a good lobbyist. Someone who can open doors, boost egos, and fill a table at the Capital Grille. And this is where former Congressman Rodney Davis comes in.
Davis, who previously served in the House from 2013 to 2023, has been tasked with restoring the Chamber’s swagger. Persuade his former Republican colleagues in Congress to forget — or at least forgive — their previous grudges against the Chamber and focus on their numerous shared interests.
Rachael Bade, co-author of the Playbook, interviewed Davis for the Playbook Deep Dive podcast on Thursday to find out how he plans to accomplish this. In many ways, he rejected the premise, but he did share telling details about how the business community is advancing its priorities in Trump’s new Washington, including what they’d like to see in a reconciliation bill and which relationships are most valuable for securing victories in the new Congress and White House.
