When you want to talk about economic policy, you could hold a press conference. Or you could invite the people who actually move markets to dinner. President Donald Trump is going with option two Wednesday evening, hosting a private White House dinner for some of Wall Street's most powerful executives.
Who's Coming to Dinner
The guest list reads like a who's who of American finance. Confirmed attendees include JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) CEO Jamie Dimon, BlackRock, Inc. (BLK) chief Larry Fink, and Goldman Sachs Group (GS) CEO David Solomon, according to CBS News. Also joining are Adena Friedman of Nasdaq, Inc. (NDAQ), Stephen Schwarzman from Blackstone, and Morgan Stanley (MS) CEO Ted Pick.
The dinner was organized with help from Jeffrey Sprecher of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (ICE), which owns the New York Stock Exchange, along with NYSE president Lynn Martin.
The invite list extends beyond traditional banking. Ken Griffin of Citadel, Henry Kravis from KKR, Marc Rowan of Apollo Global Management, and SoftBank's Masayoshi Son are also expected to attend. Son recently made headlines with significant commitments to U.S. technology and infrastructure investments.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick round out the evening's attendees, bridging the gap between Wall Street and Washington.
The Agenda Behind the Appetizers
This isn't just a social dinner. Trump's goal is straightforward: improve relationships with business leaders and encourage more investment in American manufacturing. The timing makes sense, given that most of these participants have previously backed Trump financially.
Some attendees are already putting money where their mouth is. SoftBank has pledged billions of dollars toward U.S. tech, artificial intelligence, and job creation. Last month, JPMorgan announced an ambitious $1.5 trillion 10-year initiative designed to secure critical industries in the United States by encouraging the growth and acceleration of strategic manufacturing.
Through this White House gathering, Trump aims to facilitate dialogue on future economic policies and deepen collaborative ties between his administration and financial sector leaders. It's the kind of direct access that money managers dream about—a chance to shape policy discussions while the policies are still being formed.