U.S. Channel Partners Are Optimistic About Donald Trump’s Return to the White House

A new Channelnomics survey finds that a majority of U.S. channel partners believe Trump’s plans for imposing sweeping tariffs will help their businesses in 2025.

The U.S. marks the return of Donald Trump to the presidency today, making him only the second president after Grover Cleveland to serve non-consecutive terms. The business community, particularly the technology sector, appears optimistic about his return.

Trump campaigned on major economic reforms, including protective tariffs to boost domestic manufacturing, substantial immigration reform, and a dramatic one-third reduction in federal spending - approximately $2 trillion. These policies seem to align with broader public sentiment, as polls suggest most Americans believe they will help control inflation, create jobs, and improve living standards.

Our recent Channel Forecast survey shows that most partners feel positive about the incoming administration. Fifty-four percent believe Trump’s planned tariffs will boost their business growth, while 21% expect negative impacts. The remaining 26% anticipate no significant changes.

The tech industry's leadership has largely rallied behind Trump. Beyond his well-known supporter Elon Musk, industry figures like Bill Gates, Tim Cook, Mark Zuckerberg, Peter Thiel, and Marc Andreessen have expressed support for his agenda. Many of these tech leaders are backing Trump

Partner confidence extends beyond politics. The upcoming Channelnomics Partner Confidence Index reveals remarkable optimism, with 91% of partners expecting revenue growth and 88% anticipating increased profits in 2025. Most partners no longer view inflation or interest rates as major concerns.

The broader tech market outlook is equally strong. Analysts predict global IT spending will grow between 9% and 12%. U.S. partners expect increased customer spending, particularly in artificial intelligence investments. This optimism is backed by strong economic indicators - 3% growth in 2024, with 2025 projections ranging from 2.5% to 3%.

Given these positive economic conditions and moderating inflation and interest rates, it's perhaps unsurprising that only 52% of partners felt compelled to revise their 2025 business strategies following Trump's election.

As the tech sector navigates this political transition, the combination of strong economic fundamentals, industry leadership support, and partner optimism suggests a promising year ahead. Whether Trump's policies will deliver the anticipated benefits remains to be seen, but the channel appears well-positioned for growth regardless of the political landscape.

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