Americans have lost faith in almost every binding institution — except the CEO, according to the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, which found "my employer" is the most trusted institution globally at 78%. Axios CEO Jim VandeHei argues this trust is not a trophy but an obligation for business leaders to fill the leadership void left by government, media, and organized religion.
VandeHei, drawing on his own experience and a conversation with JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon in March, emphasizes that CEOs have a duty to step up. The business case for leadership, he writes, has never been cleaner, urging leaders not to moralize but to act with clarity and honesty.
His first tip: level with employees. "We're not politicians. We shouldn't pretend to be," he writes, noting that CEOs' microphones are bigger and more trusted than at any point in a generation. Leaders should tell the truth about the economy, the business, and jobs, acknowledging honest uncertainty while providing wisdom and direction.
The column, a follow-up to Monday's piece "The Rattled Generation," positions corporate leadership as a response to widespread institutional distrust. It calls for direct communication rather than political posturing, framing transparency as both a moral and strategic imperative.
Critics might argue that CEOs are not equipped to replace public institutions and that placing such responsibility on business leaders risks conflating profit motives with public good. The column itself warns against moralizing, yet the call to "meet the moment" implies a broader societal role some CEOs may resist.