Cowards

Jon A. Ballis

Jon A. Ballis

Chairman, Executive Committee, Kirkland & Ellis

Caved to Trump’s demands and by pledging $125 million in “pro bono” legal work for causes championed by Trump.

Katrina Armstrong

Katrina Armstrong

Former Interim President, Columbia University

Caved to Trump’s list of demands for changes to numerous university policies and procedures. Doing so earned Columbia the right, not to be left alone, but to “negotiate” with the administration about its grievances and its cancellation of $400 million in federal grants. Armstrong then resigned but the grants have not been restored.

Yvette Davids

Yvette Davids

Vice Admiral & Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy

Failed to protest when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office demanded that 381 books be removed from the academy library. Maya Angelou—out. Adolph Hitler—in.

Hans E. Vestberg

Hans E. Vestberg

Chairman and CEO, Verizon

Pledged Verizon would spend at least $10 million to advertise on X, after X threatened to file a spurious antitrust lawsuit against the company.

Scott Edelman

Scott Edelman

Chairman, Milbank

Caved to Trump’s demands by pledging $100 million in “pro-bono” legal services and said the firm was glad to be able to “find common ground” with Mr. Trump.

Matthew Feldman

Matthew Feldman

Chairman, Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Caved to Trump’s demands by pledging $100 million in “pro-bono” legal work for causes championed by Trump.

Lonnie G. Bunch III

Lonnie G. Bunch III

Secretary, Smithsonian Institution

Trump “fired” Kim Sajet, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, for noting, among other things, that there is racial and gender inequality in America. But the Smithsonian’s Board of Regents affirmed that only the Smithsonian Secretary had authority over personnel decisions. Then Bunch accepted the “resignation” of Sajet, thanking her for putting “the needs of the Institution above her own.” Trump’s spokesman crowed that Trump had “ordered the termination” of Sajet, and Bunch remained silent.

Robert Giuffra

Robert Giuffra

Co-Chair, Sullivan & Cromwell

Helped facilitate capitulation of Paul, Weiss to Trump’s demands.

Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson

Speaker of the House of Representatives

Backed Trump’s Tariffmageddon, stating “Let’s hold tight and have patience. The president is engaging in a strategy right now.”

Brad Karp

Brad Karp

Managing Partner, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison

Caved to Trump criticism of his firm’s legal work by pledging $40 million in “pro-bono” legal services on pet Trump issues, including work to “improve the justice system”.

Jeremy London

Jeremy London

Executive Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

Caved to Trump’s demands by pledging $100 million in “pro-bono” legal services.

Patrice Louvet

Patrice Louvet

President and CEO, Ralph Lauren Corporation

Agreed to resume ad buying on X after receiving a lawsuit threat.

Richard M. Trobman

Richard M. Trobman

Chairman and Managing Partner, Latham & Watkins

Caved to Trump’s demands and by pledging $125 million in “pro bono” legal work for causes championed by Trump.

Rob Manfred

Rob Manfred

Commissioner, Major League Baseball

After meeting with Trump, reversed his long-held position that baseball cheats and liars like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson should not be eligible for “enshrinement” in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rumored to have agreed that Trump will soon be added to the Hall of Fame.

Alden Millard

Alden Millard

Chairman of the Executive Committee, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

Caved to Trump’s demands and by pledging $125 million in “pro bono” legal work for causes championed by Trump.

Patrick Quinn

Patrick Quinn

Managing Partner, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft

Caved to Trump’s demands and by pledging at least $100 million in “pro bono” legal work for causes championed by Trump.

Shari Redstone

Shari Redstone

Controlling Shareholder, Paramount Corporation

Desperate to settle a $20 billion lawsuit filed by Trump against /Paramount/CBS’s “60 Minutes” for an anodyne edit of an interview with Kamala Harris. Settling the frivolous suit would presumably encourage the administration to approve the pending multi-billion dollar sale of Paramount.