Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos, once a vocal critic of Donald Trump, appears to have shifted his tone significantly toward the president-elect.
In the past, Bezos delivered sharp critiques of Trump, including a comment at a 2016 Vanity Fair Summit accusing him of behavior that “erodes our democracy around the edges.”
Now, however, Bezos seems much more optimistic — and even supportive.
“If we're talking about Trump... I'm actually very optimistic this time around, I'm very hopeful,” he said. “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation, and if I can help him do that, I'm going to help him.”
Bezos’ willingness to collaborate with Trump reflects a broader concern about the regulatory hurdles facing the U.S. economy.
“We do have too much regulation in this country,” he said. “We are burdened by excessive permitting and regulation. You can't build a bridge, and all these things — you know what they are. We see these examples all the time. We need to be able to build solar fields and everything else.”
Bezos is not alone in this critique. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has also voiced frustration with what he sees as overregulation. Last month, Musk wrote on X, “We finally have a mandate to delete the mountain of choking regulations that do not serve the greater good.”
‘Luckiest country in the world’
While highlighting concerns about regulation, Bezos also delivered an uplifting message about America’s inherent strengths.
“We are the luckiest country in the world. We have all these natural resources, including energy independence. We have the best risk capital system in the world by far,” he said at the summit.
Bezos’ statement highlights widely recognized advantages. The U.S. is the world’s largest economy by GDP and is endowed with abundant natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals and arable land. Beyond natural wealth, the country boasts strong financial markets and dominates in venture capital and private equity — critical drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship.
These strengths are underpinned by a culture of innovation, a robust legal framework for intellectual property and a history of technological leadership.
According to Bezos, the U.S. is “so set up to grow.” With Trump’s focus on deregulation, the country could regain a stronger growth trajectory.
“I’m very optimistic that President Trump is serious about this regulatory agenda and I think he has a good chance of succeeding,” he said.
America's economic strength and growth potential make it a compelling destination for investment, and this optimism is shared by some of the most successful investors, including Warren Buffett.
“America has been a terrific country for investors. All they have needed to do is sit quietly, listening to no one,” Buffett wrote in his latest annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders. His unwavering faith in U.S. equities has been a cornerstone of his success.
“I can’t remember a period since March 11, 1942 — the date of my first stock purchase — that I have not had a majority of my net worth in equities, U.S.-based equities,” he wrote.
For those looking to follow in Buffett’s footsteps, he has often championed a simple but effective strategy which he referred to at Berkshire’s 2020 annual meeting: “In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund.”
This straightforward approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across various industries, providing diversified exposure without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.
The beauty of this strategy is its accessibility — anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it.
Even small amounts can grow over time, and some apps even let you invest in an S&P 500 ETF with your spare change, making it easier than ever to build wealth alongside the world’s financial elite.
Building wealth through American real estate
Real estate has been another cornerstone of wealth creation in America, and the current housing supply gap highlights a unique opportunity for investors. According to a June analysis by Zillow, the U.S. housing shortage reached an estimated 4.5 million homes as of 2022.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell underscored the severity of the crisis in a September press conference, stating, “The real issue with housing is that we have had, and are on track to continue to have, not enough housing.”
While high home prices and elevated mortgage rates have made buying a home more challenging, you don’t need to purchase a property outright to invest in U.S. real estate.
Alternatively, real estate investment trusts (REITs) provide another avenue for those looking to gain exposure to this essential market.
Companies like American Homes 4 Rent (NYSE:AMH) focus on single-family rental homes, while Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) targets multifamily housing in high-demand urban areas. These companies can serve as a starting point for further research.
