Trump’s war and rhetoric are overshadowing the IMF’s growth agenda

• In today’s CEO Daily: Diane Brady examines the elements that will decide if the IMF can maintain its focus on growth.
• The big leadership story: A chief executive is retreating from a pledge to assess staff based on their use of artificial intelligence.
• The markets: Rising as investors dismiss the halted peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.
• Plus: All the updates and office gossip from .

(SeaPRwire) –   ​​Good morning. CEOs grappling with the unpredictability of inflation, maritime disruptions, interest rates, tariffs, wealth disparity, AI advancement, and other concerns should watch the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington this week. These assemblies provide revealing insights into how central bankers, finance ministers, and other policy leaders perceive the challenges affecting the world economy—and their planned responses. Last year, significant attention was on the consequences of Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. This year, it centers on the repercussions of Trump’s conflict with Iran. Will they concentrate on the matters and strategies most vital for growth? That could hinge on factors such as these:

The Fog of War – IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has a packed schedule, covering issues from escalating public debt and income disparity to international commerce and regulation. World Bank President Ajay Banga is prioritizing employment creation, sustainable development, technological access, food stability, and expanding Middle Eastern economies. Yet the first day began with the U.S. barring all vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as the president disparaged the Pope. Numerous conflicts are currently affecting growth: the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Gaza war, a worldwide trade war, and internal strife in Sudan, Myanmar, and other regions. However, the war endangering global energy resources, overturning geopolitical dynamics, inciting a food emergency, and likely to suppress worldwide growth well beyond any truce is the Iran war. The purpose of these meetings is to lessen the economic harm. The sole nation holding veto authority at both the IMF and World Bank: the United States. 

Jerome Powell’s Swan Song – This will mark Powell’s final conference with central bankers, as Kevin Warsh is scheduled to assume the role of Federal Reserve chair next month. Warsh possesses a solid record and considerable support. Yet Powell served an essential function during a precarious period for the U.S. central bank, resolutely guarding its autonomy, ensuring responsibility, ignoring slights, and persistently collaborating with the administration to prevent disaster. Just last week, he and the Treasury secretary gathered Wall Street executives to discuss cybersecurity worries stemming from Anthropic’s newest AI model. Through these actions, he has helped strengthen America’s standing as a partner in securing the global economy when other pressures have sought to undermine it.

Shifting Alliances – Last autumn, Georgieva remarked to me at the ’s Most Powerful Women 2025 summit that “trade is like water” since “if you place a barrier, it finds a way around.” But water can move in various directions. In the past year, we have witnessed Canada develop tighter ties with China, Europe uniting in opposition to the U.S. regarding Greenland, and China’s ongoing rise. The appeal to invest in America First is powerful, yet there could be indications that confidence in Brand USA is fading. 

Contact CEO Daily via Diane Brady at diane.brady@.com