[guiriduro]

MS could always refocus themselves as a global company (in the legal rather than marketing-only sense), and move their HQ out of the US, then there could be no Trump tantrums affecting other countries, the worse that could happen would be some sanctions on what would then be their in-country US affiliate, with no ability to affect their other global operations whatsoever. Why haven't they followed this approach? Haven't lost enough customers yet?

[bawolff]

> the worse that could happen would be some sanctions on what would then be their in-country US affiliate

So what you are saying is the worst that could happen is they lose the entire US market, us based datacenters, and us based employees?

I think the question answers itself.

[guiriduro]

No. It would be run by a US affiliate using the Microsoft brand, paying royalties to a global company in some other jurisdiction.

[SllX]

That approach is also insane.

You’re always going to be vulnerable somewhere and there isn’t a better country to be if you’re in software, cloud services or AI.

Not to mention it’s not like Microsoft Execs want to pickup and leave the States either.

[guiriduro]

Don't need to. Would it be a big deal to hop on a plane to e.g. Switzerland once a year?

[munk-a]

MS lives by corporate contracts and there are a lot of very powerful US companies that will roll over if Trump barks - if MS had already fled the US in a legal sense they'd definitely be in a better place but trying to leave during this administration would cause Trump's ire to focus on them and likely cost them an immense amount of money. I don't particularly like MS and both office and windows are declining in quality quickly so I wouldn't be opposed to the move but... nothing would sink that ship faster than losing a bunch of large US contracts as Trump toadies demonstrate their loyalty by bravely switching to alternatives.