If you stand up for what's right, you won't be standing alone

At some point or another, every company, institution, CEO, media outlet, law firm, elected official, and university is going to have to choose: when threatened by Donald Trump, will you capitulate or will you fight? I understand the desire to capitulate. No one wants to sign up for a fight against the most powerful person in the world. But keep in mind, first of all, the immense damage inherent in capitulating. Think about the damage wrought by ABC News when the network settled a frivolous lawsuit with Trump for $15 million and by Paramount for meddling in 60 Minutes’ editorial independence. Think about the damage wrought by law firm Paul, Weiss agreeing to pro bono legal work. Think about the damage wrought by Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post pulling punches against Trump and Zuckerberg’s Meta making Facebook more Republican-friendly. Think about the damage wrought by Columbia University changing its policies to shore up federal funding. These might seem like small steps intended to protect their own positions, but in effect, by rolling over, each one of these players broadcast to Trump how easy it is to win. Meaning he feels that much more emboldened to go after the next law firm, the next media outlet, the next university. Those who capitulate are not simply protecting themselves, they’re making the environment that much easier for Trump to thrive and ultimately weaponize the federal government against them. Their cowardice puts everyone else in danger. Know that if you grow a spine and stand up for what's right, you won't be standing alone.