Small business CEO: Trump reminds me of a “NY version” of Reagan

Before Donald Trump became President Trump, 101 business leaders openly endorsed him — including Louis Sola, founder and CEO of Miami-based yacht brokerage company Evermarine.

Sola was hopeful about candidate Trump, but how does he feel about President Trump a week and a half after he moved into the White House? He couldn’t be more thrilled.

“He has only a week in office, but what a week! I am very optimistic about his presidency. He is a man of action and clearly in charge. We needed a clear leader, and we have one now who is willing to stand up to his own party as well as the opposition,” Sola told Yahoo Finance, adding “President Trump is a man of his word, and he is going to keep his word to the American public.”

Sola even traveled to Washington, D.C. on inauguration day. “I was on the steps of the Capitol when he took the oath of office and felt proud of him and also to be an American. The president clearly reminds me of a New York version of President Ronald Reagan,” he said.

Many other Americans have not reacted well to Trump’s first week on the job as commander-in-chief. The day after the inauguration, an estimated 3.3 to 4.1 million people across the US participated in the Women’s March to protest Trump. It turned out the protests were just getting started. On Friday, Trump signed an order temporarily banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries, angering everyone from tech leaders to academics. His cabinet picks have also spurred controversy, prompting GOP senators to change the rules to vote on Health and Treasury nominees, approving Rep. Tom Price and Steven Mnuchin without any Democrats present.

But Sola says Trump’s decisions this week don’t surprise him because he’s simply delivering on his campaign promises.

“I don’t see anything wrong with a freeze of the policy for 90 days to come up with something better in the name of national security. I have been detained for many hours before in foreign lands until they verify my documents; I don’t understand why it’s an issue when we do the same.”

Regarding Trump’s cabinet picks, Sola calls them “proven winners.” “When the game is on the line, we need to send our best players onto the field,” he said.

Looking ahead, Sola believes Trump’s plan to lower the business tax rate from 35% to 15% will benefit Evermarine greatly. “He’s done international business and understands what it’s like to operate in other countries,” Sola added. Trump’s proposed economic plan would limit tax cuts to middle- and upper-middle class earners, with the wealthiest individuals getting the biggest break.

Sola believes Trump’s moves to slash regulations will be a boon for small, international businesses like Evermarine, according to Sola. Evermarine has sold over 100 yachts across Belize, Panama and Florida over the last five years.

“Simpler regulation would save us more than a tax break for sure. Small business have only so many hours a day to be productive, and too much is spent on regulations,” he said. “Unlike government or corporate America, we need to be efficient and effective or we close the doors.”

Melody Hahm is a writer at Yahoo Finance, covering entrepreneurship, technology and real estate. Read more from Melody here & follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm.