Trump travel ban stirs faint outcry beyond Silicon Valley

New York

MOST US corporate bosses have stayed silent on President Donald Trump's immigration curbs, underscoring the sensitivities around opposing policies that could provoke a backlash from the White House.

While the leaders of Apple Inc, Google and Facebook Inc emailed their staff to denounce the suspension of the US refugee programme and the halting of arrivals from seven Muslim-majority countries, many of their counterparts in other industries either declined comment or responded with company statements reiterating their commitment to diversity.

The difference in response shows the pressure that large swathes of corporate America faces to avoid tussling publicly with the new administration.

Companies such as aircraft maker Boeing Co and automakers Ford Motor Co and General Motors Co have already had run-ins with Mr Trump over other issues, and they have much at stake in policy decisions that the administration will make on tax, trade and regulatory matters.…