Published
January 15, 2026
The 2026 State of American Business brought together top business leaders to discuss the critical role of economic growth, expanding opportunities for all Americans, and the power of free enterprise to drive progress.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the event emphasized choosing a path that prioritizes innovation, higher living standards, and a thriving economy shaped by American consumers, businesses, and markets.
As Suzanne Clark, U.S. Chamber President and CEO, said in her keynote address, “Free enterprise is the system that enables businesses to respond to people and to respond to problems…We need it to solve the great challenges of our time—future generations will need it to solve the great challenges of their time.”
Top business leaders underscored the importance of free enterprise and how business can drive growth and innovation to improve Americans’ lives.
The Case for Sustained Growth
Ross Perot Jr., Founder and Chairman of Hillwood and the Chair of the U.S. Chamber, highlighted the importance of achieving “sustained growth of 3% or more.”
“Growth is much more than a statistic—it’s the speed at which people’s quality of life improves in communities across our nation,” he explained. “We should always aspire to be a country where innovation and advances in productivity lead to constant improvements in people’s lives.”
Optimism about the Future
Christopher Nassetta, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hilton said that he felt 2026 would be a good year for the hotel business—and the economy overall.
“I’m optimistic about this year… We have America’s 250th, the windup to the ‘28 Olympics, the World Cup,” Nassetta said to David Rubenstein, the Carlyle Group Co-Chairman. “We have all these events going on…Inflation is continuing to come down, rates are coming down, you’re in probably one of the biggest deregulatory environments that we’ve seen in a long time, tax policy is fixed and favorable for a few years, and you’re in the windup to one of the great productivity booms driven by AI.”
The Importance of Free Enterprise
“Go free enterprise!” Jamie Dimon, JPMorganChase’s Chairman and CEO, said to applause in the packed house. He reinforced why faster economic growth is critical to improving Americans’ lives, saying to David Rubenstein, “America from 2000 to 2020, had it grown 3% a year, which I think was eminently achievable, our GDP per person would be $20,000 more a year today per person, which would afford a lot of safety nets, lot of infrastructure.”
Dimon noted the U.S. Chamber does a “great job” working with policymakers. “You got to get engaged,” he said. “A lot of people in the Congress—House and Senate—want to do the right job, and they need help to do the right job.”
The bottom line is making American the best it can be: “No bank is stronger than the country we live in,” said Dimon.
Advocating for Pro-Growth Policies and Empowering the Next Generation
Jill Wyant, President and CEO of Madison Air, and Vice Chair of the U.S. Chamber, spoke about the U.S. Chamber’s advocacy efforts centered on realizing America’s economic growth ambition.
These priorities include:
- Permitting reform that enables key projects to break ground quickly and efficiently.
- Advocating for another round of investment in our nation’s infrastructure.
- Championing a commonsense national approach to AI regulation to protect innovation while addressing risks.
- Advancing legal reform that reduces the danger of frivolous lawsuits targeting businesses.
- Continuing to expand and upskill America’s workforce.
“The U.S. Chamber’s mission will always be about expanding opportunity and building up the next generation of citizens, businesspeople, entrepreneurs, and changemakers,” she said. “We have the power to set the course—to choose a future of growth and opportunity for the next generation.”
About the author
Sean Hackbarth
Sean writes about public policies affecting businesses including energy, health care, and regulations. When not battling those making it harder for free enterprise to succeed, he raves about all things Wisconsin (his home state) and religiously follows the Green Bay Packers.
