CHICAGO—Commercial real estate executives typically look for certainty in the marketplace, and some moves by the Trump administration have caused concern. At DLA Piper's 14th Global Real Estate Summit in Chicago on Tuesday, an all-star group of politicos tackled these issues, including the possibility of increased racial strife in the US, before a packed ballroom in the Four Seasons Hotel.

The recent disturbances in Charlottesville, VA, the president's response, and the eventual fallout, were uppermost in the minds of many at the lunchtime panel discussion. Several weeks ago, a group of corporate executives resigned from a variety of executive branch advisory councils to protest what they saw as a weak reaction from President Trump to racist marches through that university town. The administration responded by wholly disbanding several of these business advisory groups, causing some to worry whether it can now get necessary advice.

“These advisory groups were extremely helpful to us,” said former US Secretary of Commerce Penny S. Pritzker, who served in the Obama administration. “It's a shame we are where we are.”

Former Republican US Senator and Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen was also troubled by this development. But he also believes that the White House now has a core group that can provide stability. Specifically, he pointed to the appointments of H.R. McMaster as national security advisor, John Kelly as chief of staff, and James Mattis as secretary of defense.

“It should be a great comfort to all of us,” he said, that the trio of military men were ready to serve. As a colonel, Mattis served under Cohen when the latter ran the Pentagon in the late 1990s, and Cohen trusts that he won't take part in anything that goes against the national interest. “He won't hesitate; he'll leave. But what that line will be remains to be seen.”

Former Democratic US Senator and Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell said Trump has a dangerous habit of stirring up division, frequently on racial issues. He used as an example the flare up over whether to support the NFL players, many of whom are African-American, that have kneeled during the national anthem.

Trump's “comments have not surprised me,” Mitchell said. He believes they were a politically skillful way of building up support among his mostly white base, a tack to the right after he came to several agreements with Democratic leaders in Congress.

The 84-year-old Mitchell, also chairman emeritus of DLA Piper, spoke of his military service, and the intense patriotism of both his immigrant mother and his father. And although that means he would not kneel during the national anthem, he “also completely understands and respects those who hold a contrary view.” Furthermore, “it's degrading for the president to call the players SOBs and demand that they be fired.”

Cohen also added a personal touch to his remarks. He mentioned that his wife is African-American, and that he has a multi-racial group of grandchildren. “I have to talk to them differently about what to do if they are stopped [by the police]. I shouldn't have to do that.”

He was also offended that, in the aftermath of Charlottesville, President Trump would not outright condemn all the white supremacist marchers, even saying some could be “good people.” His advice for Trump? “Help heal the nation's wounds, don't take advantage of them.”

DLA Piper

“These advisory groups were extremely helpful to us,” said former US Secretary of Commerce Penny S. Pritzker, who served in the Obama administration. “It's a shame we are where we are.”

Instant Insights /

Tough Talk on Trump

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