Published on 4/25/2026
Taylor Budovich, former White House deputy chief of staff to President Donald Trump, said – in statements reported by the American website “Axios” on Friday – that the best way to deal with Trump for business leaders is to “just tell the truth.”
Axios quoted Budovich as saying that business leaders often show a degree of fear inside the White House, which prompts them to reassure Trump that things are going well, even when the reality is not so.
Budovich, a former confidant of Trump’s inner circle, revealed that some businessmen fear telling the truth directly in front of him. These statements came in an interview with Mike Allen, co-founder of Axios, during the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Friday.
Budovich said that someone – who did not mention his name – asked him when he was deputy chief of staff at the White House about the most appropriate way to deal with Trump, and he replied, “Just tell him the truth,” noting that business leaders are often forced to embellish reality in official meetings.
According to the website, Budovich left his position in September 2025 after supervising government communications files, cabinet affairs, and writing speeches, in addition to participating in managing the communication strategy across a number of files.
Budovich worked on the team that helped prepare for Trump’s return to the presidency, and was active with political committees supporting the “MAGA” movement before joining Trump’s campaign in the 2024 elections. He is considered close to Vice President J.D. Vance.
After leaving the White House, Budovich founded a consulting firm in the field of communication and crisis management called “The Sovereign Advisors” in Washington, D.C., where he currently serves as its president, according to the “Axios” website.
