Corporate Silence on DEI Will Grow Louder Under Trump 2.0

She is in no doubt that the president-elect will be a harbinger of changes for DEI departments. Indeed, Bridge has just published a primer on what “Project 2025,” a 900-page policy “wish list” of proposals from right-wing think tank the Heritage Foundation, might mean for businesses.

“When you hear the new administration talking about DEI like it just happened yesterday, you can hear a total misunderstanding and misconceptions of what they even think it is,” she said. “I wish we had an administration open to learning, but I’m not sure we do.”

For Nagy, the best thing marketers can do is anchor their DEI messaging in company values and purpose, so it’s not seen as a response to external pressure, and therefore open to attack. “It becomes less about politics and more about organizational integrity,” she said.

Internally, she wants brands to encourage open dialogue with employees and acknowledge differing perspectives while reinforcing the importance of inclusion for long-term success.

“Consistency in action and communication builds trust and credibility,” she said.