The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was for decades an indomitable force in Washington with close ties to the Republican Party.
But that influence has eroded in recent years alongside its relationship with traditional GOP allies, putting the lobbying giant in a tough spot to fight tariffs and push tax priorities at the start of a second Trump administration.
As the president has launched an aggressive tariff strategy at the start of his second term, the Chamber’s objections don’t appear to be going far. And while the 2017 tax cuts were a huge victory for the business community and its advocates, the Chamber is entering lobbying efforts this year on the heels of a House investigation into donations to the Chamber’s foundation from left-leaning organizations — led by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith.