Charter, AT&T run long-term risks in cozying to polarizing Trump administration

[Commentary] NBC News released the results of a survey a few days ago showing that 49% of US consumers say they’re less likely to buy a product endorsed by the current US president. Despite the benefits AT&T and Charter might obtain from the Trump Administration, it might not make good business sense for these guys to fly too close to the sun. Not when he’s perceived as a black hole to more than half of the consumer base.

Indeed, captains of telecommunication industry need to understand that bedding with this administration could have serious long-term public-perception consequences. Just on an average Tuesday this week, the press secretary had to issue an apology for using a bad Nazi-era analogy. During Passover. If things were to get much worse, a CEO who got in too tight with the Oval Office could end up with a figurative public head-shaving.