How should CEOs participate in politics?

It seems that CEOs become more and more interested in participating in politics. After Trump successfully won the presidential election in 2016, the former CEO and the founder of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, said he is "seriously considering" running for president in 2020. Many people do not think that it is a wise plan for Mr Schultz to run for president in 2020, including the Washington State Democrats posted a photograph of a Starbucks cup with "Don't do it Howard" written on it. The current president, Donald Trump, also attacked this potential competitor in the 2020 US presidential election on Twitter.

It is unavoidable for CEOs of big companies to participate in politics to some degree; the chairman of Alibaba, Jack Ma, said that he needed to meet thousands of government officers in order to gain public support for his company. However, participating in an election is different. In terms of business, participating in a major election has its pros and cons. It can certainly help companies to gain more public attention and use media to make advertise for free. Moreover, participating in an election, these businessmen have to express their opinions and beliefs, if their opinions and beliefs are very positive, this would certainly help to raise companies' images. However, participating in an election is very risky, because their opponents are very likely to dig dirt out of them, which can damage their own images and their companies' images.

Of course, some businessmen participate in elections because they have some personal ambitions; however, in terms of their carerer in the private sector or their personal wealth, such move is very risky.