The Trump-Musk Era: A new wave of investment opportunities for the UK?
“Get going. Move forward. Aim High. Plan a take-off. Don't just sit on the runway and hope someone will come along and push the airplane. It simply won't happen. Change your attitude and gain some altitude. Believe me, you'll love it up here.”
Think what you like of Donald Trump, he is a businessman to his bones. He thinks like an entrepreneur.
As the world adjusts to Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the ever-expanding influence of Elon Musk in both corporate and political spheres, the implications for global business are profound.
Their policies and influence, for better or worse, are likely to spur economic dynamism, triggering a wave of opportunities across global markets.
A second Trump administration will almost certainly reinstate his signature pro-business policies—deregulation, corporate tax cuts, and an America-first economic strategy. While Trump’s economic nationalism raises concerns about global trade, such policies, while designed to bolster US business, have historically created ripple effects that extend well beyond American shores.
While many are worried about the effects of tariffs, one immediate economic consequence of a Trump-Musk era will be a resurgence in mergers and acquisitions.
Pro-business policies encourage corporate expansion, and with Trump likely to reinstate tax incentives that make overseas acquisitions more attractive for US firms, the UK will be a direct beneficiary.
Capital often flows where opportunity and innovation thrive, and the UK at the moment is looking like a bargain basement. We have industry-leading talent, combined with robust legal frameworks and cut-price businesses, making it a natural destination for US investors.
Indeed, a survey of global chief executives carried out by PwC and published at Davos this week even listed Britain as the second-best global market for investment.
Elon Musk’s growing influence in technology and finance could further accelerate transatlantic investments.
If Musk’s vision for AI and automation takes precedence in policy discussions, the UK’s cutting-edge tech sector – now worth £1 trillion, having jumped 20% since 2023 - will soon benefit from increased funding, partnerships, and acquisition interest from major US players.
Beyond mergers and acquisitions, a Trump-Musk economic climate will drive capital repatriation and a reallocation of investment portfolios.
As US corporates benefit from tax breaks and deregulatory policies, many will seek to reinvest profits into high-growth markets abroad. The UK could see a resurgence of American private equity firms funnelling funds into British scale-ups, particularly in sectors aligned with technological advancement and infrastructure modernisation. The recent announcement that four major US tech firms will establish data centres in the UK, with a combined investment of £6.3 billion, underscores this potential.
My positivity is not alone. Polling I carried out of Helm members this week had two-in-three saying they thought Trump’s presidency will be good for business in the UK as well as the US.
So, what can business leaders in the UK concretely do to tap into these opportunities? There are three things to keep in mind.
First, focus on the economics, not the politics. Trump’s leadership style may be divisive, and Musk’s approach unconventional, but their influence is likely to create conditions that favour business growth.
Second, we must leverage the UK’s unique strengths. With his Scottish heritage, Donald Trump has strong ties to Britain even if he doesn’t favour the current Labour administration. Business leaders can work with US investors. Governments come and go, but business relationships can last a lifetime.
Third, we should embrace the exciting, innovative, spirit taking hold across the pond. We must seize the possibilities artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies offer, all while collaborating with American organisations and businesses on what is ultimately a common goal: growth and prosperity for all.
As businesses navigate this shifting economic climate, forward-thinking business leaders will be ready to embrace the opportunities that emerge from the next era of US economic leadership.
As Trump says, you don’t sit on the runway and hope your plane will take off.
Andreas Adamides is CEO of Helm, the UK’s largest networking organisation exclusively for high-growth business founders. Coined as the founders-only club that is ‘powering London’s entrepreneurs’, Helm represents 400 members with a combined revenue of £8 billion.
