Samsung may move closer to Trump administration in the US over new chip tariffs
The victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election has led to changes in the internal policies and structure of several large technology companies.
Some companies that previously did not support Trump are now seeking to establish relations with his administration. Samsung was not on this list, but the situation may change.
Here's What We Know
Large corporations have public affairs departments that are responsible for maintaining favourable relations with local authorities. Usually, after the change of administration in the government, such departments are reshuffled, especially when the new government has different political views. Accordingly, Samsung may change the head of its North American public affairs department.
Samsung's Silicon Valley Office. Image: Samsung
According to Korean media reports, the current head of this division, Mark Lippert, is on the verge of resigning. He was the US ambassador to South Korea during the Obama administration and joined Samsung in 2022 due to his ties to the Democratic Party. However, the company is rumoured to be looking for a replacement for the position, preferring a candidate with close ties to the Republican Party and the Trump administration.
This move may be related to Trump's planned economic decisions that could affect Samsung. In particular, he is considering imposing tariffs on chip imports, which could hit Samsung's semiconductor business. High duties will increase the cost of the company's products, forcing American consumers to look for alternative suppliers. Samsung is building new chip factories in Texas, and any negative economic changes could hamper these plans.
A similar strategy is being used by Meta, which has already replaced its head of political affairs with a person from the Republican Party. In addition, Mark Zuckerberg has changed his content moderation policy in favour of freedom of speech and met with Trump several times. Samsung may follow a similar path to avoid possible economic risks.
Source: Reuters
