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US Chamber of Commerce accused of leading ‘woke corporate America’ as Trump dismantles DEI agenda
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FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is coming under fire for allegedly becoming «one of the biggest engines driving woke corporate America» amid the Trump administration’s battle to strip diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the fabric of industry and government, a conservative watchdog alleges.
«Once a voice for small businesses and Main Street, the Chamber now advocates for DEI mandates, (environmental, social and governance) investment schemes, and radical climate policies that punish consumers,» said Will Hild, the executive director of Consumers’ Research, a free-market-oriented nonprofit focused on consumer advocacy.
ESG is an investing framework focused on prioritizing environmental, social and governance investments.
«They have strayed far from their original mission of advocating for free markets in favor of a political agenda,» he continued. «Now, that the Chamber has made itself a leader in pushing woke policies in corporate boardrooms, it should come as no surprise that they are also supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance, one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology. Consumers’ Research will continue to call out organizations like the Chamber for pushing a woke agenda.»
WATCH: HIDDEN CAMERA CATCHES RED-STATE UNIVERSITY ADMINS ADMITTING HOW THEY ‘CLEVERLY’ DISGUISED DEI AGENDA
Consumers’ Research published a «Woke Alert» this week accusing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of being «totally woke, pushing DEI and a left-wing climate agenda.» ( Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Hild’s comments come as Consumers’ Research published a «Woke Alert» this week accusing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of being «totally woke, pushing DEI and a left-wing climate agenda.»
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a business association that represents and lobbies for the interests of local and national companies in Washington, D.C., and operates in a nonpartisan manner. The chamber has received praise and criticism from both Republicans and Democrats across the years for its various politically focused initiatives.
Consumers’ Research, as part of its mission to strip «woke» ideology from the fabric of American businesses, publishes «Woke Alerts» sounding the alarm on practices the group views as harmful to consumers or serving «woke politicians.» The latest alert focuses on the Chamber of Commerce’s promotion of DEI initiatives, as well as prioritizing «a radical climate agenda.»
The alert pointed to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website stating that «diversity is America’s strength» in its mission to remove DEI initiatives, which conservatives argue promotes group-based preferences and ideological conformity over individual merit, free speech and equal treatment.
«Diversity is America’s strength, spurring the innovation and creativity that have made the U.S. economy the most vibrant and dynamic in history,» the Chamber’s website declares. «When businesses recognize and embrace different perspectives, they are better able to create value, serve customers, support employees, and solve problems. By providing opportunities for everyone, businesses help lift communities and strengthen the health, prosperity, and competitiveness of our nation and our society.»
The Chamber’s push on DEI came as such race-based workplace initiatives were promoted from the highest echelons of industry down to grade school classrooms in the 2020 era, especially after the police-involved killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, when «defund the police» and Black Lives Matter dominated the news cycle with protests and riots.
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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce was among the flood of industries that heightened their promotion DEI policies, including the Chamber reporting in a 2021 video that Floyd’s death helped spark its launch of the «Equality of Opportunity Initiative.»
Fox News Digital reviewed archived links to the Chamber of Commerce’s «Equality of Opportunity Initiative» and found that it focused on efforts to «develop real, sustainable solutions to help close race-based opportunity gaps in six key areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth.»
Holiday shopping scene. (iStock)
The link to the former website page redirects users to the chamber’s website homepage, with archived links showing the race-based URL was still active in January. The chamber launched the effort in June 2020, just days after Floyd’s death.
«This work is a priority for the chamber and our members because as we all know its not just a moral imperative, it’s an economic imperative,» U.S. Chamber President Suzanne Clark said in 2021 during the 2nd Annual National Summit on Equality of Opportunity of DEI practices.
Consumers’ Research also flagged the chamber’s 2022 impact report, which said it helped deliver $8.1 million in race-based grants to 1,414 Black-owned small businesses across 42 states. The alert also noted that the chamber has promoted reading materials such as a 2021 guide on DEI, and publicly supported the «Equality Act» in 2021 — legislation Consumers’ Research described as «radical» and claimed would «enshrine in federal law a right for males to participate in women’s sports and lead to the punishment of small business owners based on their religious beliefs.»
When asked about the Woke Alert, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce took issue with Hild arguing that the business group is «supporting legislation to cripple litigation finance,» which Hild said «is one of the few tools consumers have to hold woke corporations accountable for pushing political ideology.»
«It is sad this organization has become a mouthpiece for trial lawyers whose tactics have imposed a stealth tax on American families who are paying up to $4,200 extra a year for insurance, food, clothing and other items as a result of sham lawsuits that only line the pockets of trial lawyers,» Stephen Waguespack, the president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, said. «These lawyers, who donate overwhelmingly to progressive causes and candidates, and those who align with them, are undermining President Trump’s efforts to lower costs for American families.»
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports a Republican-introduced bill, the Litigation Transparency Act of 2025, which aims to ensure greater transparency in litigation by requiring parties receiving payment in lawsuits to disclose their identities.
Consumers’ Research has used litigation finance in recent years to push back against «woke capitalism» to counter ESG and DEI policies, Fox News Digital previously reported, with Hild saying that he views the legislation as an «attack» on one of the «few tools Americans have to hold powerful, woke corporations accountable.»
The new criticisms land as President Donald Trump’s return to the Oval Office in January marked an end to DEI initiatives at the federal level and set off a sweeping effect on private industries as well.
Consumers’ Research published a «Woke Alert» this week accusing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce of being «totally woke, pushing DEI and a left-wing climate agenda.» (iStock )
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Trump has moved to systematically unwind DEI programs across the federal government, signing a pair of executive orders in January that direct agencies to identify and shut down DEI offices, terminate equity-focused grants and contracts, and scrap long-standing affirmative action-style requirements for federal contractors in favor of what the White House calls «colorblind» merit based rules.
While Consumers’ Research is now attacking the chamber from the right, the organization has previously faced scrutiny from Democrats as well. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., led the charge in a 2019 letter demanding the group «accept that human-caused climate change is real and warrants immediate action,» claiming the chamber «marshaled considerable lobbying resources on behalf» of companies working to «oppose congressional, executive, and judicial actions that would meaningfully address climate change,» according to the letter.
President Donald Trump has moved to systematically unwind DEI programs across the federal government. (Evan Vucci/The Associated Press)
The Chamber has been lauded by other prominent U.S. leaders, such as former President Barack Obama in 2011, when he thanked the group for pushing Congress on infrastructure investments. He said during an address focused on resetting relations with corporate America following the recession that had rocked the U.S. that the White House and the Chamber «must work together» on the economy.
WATCH: DEI STILL IN PLACE AS COLLEGE ‘FINDING WAYS’ AROUND BAN, OFFICIAL ADMITS: ‘PROUD OF THE FIGHT’
Consumers’ Research also knocked the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over its climate agenda. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Consumers’ Research also knocked the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over its climate agenda, saying the group has paired its DEI push with aggressive environmental goals. A 2023 blog post on the chamber’s website titled «Fostering a Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Future» promoted prioritizing and working with «diverse suppliers» to strengthen businesses.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference earlier in 2025, which the Trump administration effectively boycotted by not sending a delegation to the annual conference. Instead, Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom attended the event in the federal government’s absence, where he took shots at Trump for his environmental policies.
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«Our climate is changing and humans are contributing to these changes. Inaction is simply not an option,» the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s website. «Combating climate change will require citizens, government, and business to work together. American businesses play a vital role in creating innovative solutions to protect our planet.»
Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
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Trump says ‘Triumphal Arch’ monument construction to begin within 2 months in DC: report
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President Donald Trump revealed Wednesday how soon an Arc de Triomphe-style monument will be constructed in the nation’s capital to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Trump on Wednesday said the construction of the monument, nicknamed the «Arc de Trump,» will begin «sometime in the next two months,» according to a report from Politico.
«It hasn’t started yet. It starts sometime in the next two months. It’ll be great. Everyone loves it,» Trump reportedly told the outlet during a phone call from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. «They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch.»
The newest monument, which resembles Paris’ historic Arc de Triomphe, will be bankrolled privately, with funds left over from the new White House ballroom project, Fox News Digital previously reported.
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President Donald Trump holds a model of an arch during a ballroom fundraising dinner in the East Room of the White House on Oct. 15, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The exact location of the new landmark has not yet been confirmed, though the report notes it may be situated near the Lincoln Monument.
Details about the amount of time it will take to build, the cost of construction, the funding amount and who is heading the project have not yet been released by the White House.
Trump signed Public Law 116-217 in December 2020 authorizing the Women’s Suffrage National Monument to be built on federal land in Washington, D.C., leading to the subsequent signing of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act during former President Joe Biden’s final week in office.
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A model of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary is seen on the Resolute Desk on Oct. 15, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation (WSNMF) announced Dec. 4 it received final and unanimous approval from the National Capital Planning Commission for a permanent two and a half acre site on the National Mall in Constitution Gardens, according to the foundation’s website.
Foundation leaders noted the women’s suffrage monument went through a «multi-step, rigorous review process,» including gaining approval from the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.
The foundation also completed a public comment period with the National Park Service as part of the public scoping process, according to its website.
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It is unclear if Trump’s newest proposed monument received similar approval.
The Women’s Suffrage National Monument will be located at the intersection of 19th St. and Constitution Avenue NW, and the next project phase will focus on creative development and design.
The new monument is rumored to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency)
«The enthusiasm behind this project has been inspiring,» WSNMF President and CEO Anna Laymon wrote in a Dec. 4 statement announcing final approval. «We are so grateful for the dedicated support from so many who made this possible, including President Trump; President Biden; our honorary chairs Mrs. Melania Trump, Dr. Jill Biden, Mrs. Michelle Obama, Mrs. Laura Bush, and Secretary Hillary Clinton; our bipartisan and bicameral Congressional sponsors, Senator Blackburn, Senator Baldwin, Congresswoman Lesko, Congressman Neguse and their dedicated staffs; our incredible Board of Directors; and all our partners and supporters.»
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The most recent major monument built on the National Mall was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which was completed in 2011.
The granite memorial was inspired by a line from King’s «I Have a Dream» speech, delivered nearby on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the «March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom» in 1963.
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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year’s address to deliver a blunt message to the West and to his own troops: Russia is not backing down in Ukraine.
As 2026 arrived in Russia’s far eastern regions, Putin vowed victory in the nearly four-year war, praising Russian soldiers and framing the conflict as a fight for the nation’s survival — even as the United States ramps up diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the bloodshed.
«We believe in you and our victory,» Putin said in remarks broadcast nationwide and released by the Kremlin on Wednesday. Addressing troops directly, he congratulated «all our soldiers and commanders» and pledged continued support for what Moscow calls its «special military operation.»
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Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his New Year’s address from the Kremlin, vowing victory in the war in Ukraine. (East2West)
Putin cast the war as a struggle for Russia’s homeland, «truth and justice,» signaling determination to press ahead despite mounting losses and international pressure.
In a separate message, ex-President Dmitry Medvedev — Putin’s security council deputy — said of victory in Ukraine: «I sincerely believe that it is near.» Echoing Putin, he spoke of «our great and invincible Russia.»
The defiant tone comes as the war approaches grim milestones. On Jan. 12, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will surpass the 1,418 days the Soviet Union fought Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II. On Feb. 24, the conflict will enter its fourth year. Western estimates place the number of killed and wounded at more than 1 million — a figure the Kremlin disputes.
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The mother of a Russian soldier who was killed in a military action in Ukraine, kneels near a planted tree in memory of her son at the Alley of Heroes in Sevastopol, Crimea, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo)
Putin’s rhetoric stood in sharp contrast to renewed diplomatic activity led by Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, as the White House explores possible paths to end Europe’s largest land war since World War II.
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U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at a news conference following a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on December 28, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
After the meeting, Trump said Ukraine and Russia were «closer than ever» to peace, while acknowledging that major obstacles — particularly territorial disputes — remain unresolved. Reuters separately reported that Trump and Zelenskyy discussed potential U.S. troop involvement as part of broader security guarantees, though no decisions were announced.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Las acciones europeas concluyeron 2025 con un sólido desempeño, a pesar de un leve retroceso en la última jornada bursátil del año. El índice STOXX 600, principal referente paneuropeo, cedió un 0,1% el miércoles, situándose en 592,19 puntos. Este descenso no empañó el balance anual del índice, que acumuló una subida del 16,66%, resultado similar al incremento del 17% registrado por el S&P 500 de Wall Street. Entre los factores que impulsaron este crecimiento se destacan la caída de las tasas de interés, el incremento del gasto fiscal en Alemania y el movimiento de capitales desde las grandes tecnológicas estadounidenses hacia el mercado europeo.
El sector bancario y el de defensa encabezaron las ganancias en la región. Las entidades de crédito impulsaron el avance del STOXX 600, logrando un ascenso del 67% en 2025, lo que representa su mejor resultado desde 1997. Esta mejora se atribuye a un aumento en las operaciones, un marco regulador más favorable y la estabilidad relativa de la economía europea. Por su parte, los valores de defensa marcaron máximos históricos durante el año y cerraron con un crecimiento del 56,5%, respaldados por los compromisos de incremento en el gasto militar en varios países de la región, a pesar de una corrección a la baja desde octubre.
A lo largo de 2025, los inversores optaron por diversificar sus carteras fuera de Estados Unidos, buscando oportunidades en Europa ante la incertidumbre comercial procedente de la administración estadounidense y los datos económicos poco concluyentes. No obstante, en la última jornada del año, la mayoría de los sectores cerraron en negativo. El subíndice minorista fue uno de los más afectados, con una caída del 0,3%.
La actividad en los mercados fue moderada en la víspera de las celebraciones de Año Nuevo. Las bolsas de Alemania, Italia y Suiza permanecieron cerradas, mientras que los mercados de Francia, España y el Reino Unido operaron con horarios reducidos. Pese a la tendencia general al alza, el índice IBEX de Madrid sobresalió al registrar un incremento cercano al 50% en 2025, superando ampliamente el desempeño de sus homólogos europeos.
El euro cerró este miércoles el año 2025 con una revalorización anual del 14% frente al dólar, impulsada en gran medida por el debilitamiento del “billete verde”. Esta tendencia plantea desafíos para las exportaciones de la zona euro, que desde el 1 de enero incorporará a un nuevo miembro: Bulgaria.
La cotización de la moneda única inició el año con una marcada debilidad, llegando el 2 de enero a 1,027 dólares, un valor que no se registraba desde noviembre de 2022. Este descenso se atribuyó a la diferente evolución económica entre Estados Unidos y la zona euro. Al cierre de 2024, el PIB estadounidense habría crecido un 2,8 %, mientras que la expansión en el denominado “Viejo Continente” fue del 0,7 %.
El retorno de Donald Trump a la presidencia de Estados Unidos el 20 de enero marcó un punto de inflexión para el euro, que comenzó a apreciarse frente al dólar hasta alcanzar este miércoles los 1,1732 dólares hacia las 16.00 GMT. El máximo anual se registró el 1 de julio, cuando la divisa europea llegó a cotizar a 1,1807 dólares, un nivel que no se veía desde 2021.
Este repunte coincidió con una fase de acercamiento comercial entre Washington y Bruselas, tras la imposición de gravámenes a productos importados por parte de la administración Trump. Aquellas negociaciones derivaron en un acuerdo marco entre Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea (UE), mediante el cual Washington se comprometió a aplicar un arancel promedio del 15 % a la mayoría de los bienes europeos, mientras que Bruselas acordó eliminar aranceles para productos estadounidenses. “El resultado negociado evita una escalada perjudicial y sienta las bases para continuar el diálogo y desarrollar las relaciones transatlánticas”, señalaron ambas partes en su comunicado conjunto del 21 de agosto.
Desde entonces, el euro se ha mantenido en una franja comprendida entre 1,159 y 1,173 dólares, impulsada principalmente por la debilidad de la economía estadounidense. Según explicó Hubertus Bardt, economista del Instituto para la Economía Alemana (IW), a la agencia EFE, este comportamiento responde “fundamentalmente a las actuales debilidades de la economía estadounidense”. Bardt atribuyó el debilitamiento del dólar a “una situación económica fragilizada” en Estados Unidos y a la “presión sobre la Reserva Federal” ejercida por Trump “para que baje los tipos de interés”.
(Con información de Reuters y EFE)
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