Paying the Price of Playing With Trump

Javier Palomarez, chief executive officer of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), wanted to be a key liaison between Donald Trump and Latino businesses. Yet improving relations with an anti-immigrant administration without alienating allies has proved impossible for Palomarez. Former constituents say his two years of jockeying between criticizing and cultivating Trump have cost him friends without gaining him influence.

“Javier just wanted to play in the sandbox with Trump, not looking at the consequences,” says Frank Garcia, who leads the New York State Coalition of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, one of several state groups that have parted ways with Palomarez’s.