Tencent Registers Lobbyist to Counter US Blacklisting

John McEntee, former Trump aide and head of the Office of Presidential Personnel, has registered to lobby for Tencent, the world's largest gaming company and owner of the popular WeChat app. The move underscores a bigger story of Chinese firms navigating Washington at a time of deepening economic tensions. McEntee's addition to Tencent's lobbying team represents a calculated strategy to convince regulators that Tencent should not be painted with the same brush as defense-linked Chinese firms.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) has significantly increased its lobbying expenditures in Washington, D.C., as it faces ongoing government probes and changes in federal payments. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company's lobbying spending has surged to $7.7 million in the first half of 2025, surpassing previous records. This increase coincides with the Trump administration's scrutiny of Medicare practices, which are a key driver of UnitedHealth's financial performance.

The company's CEO, Stephen Hemsley, has met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Chris Klomp, the official overseeing Medicare, to discuss billing policies and supplemental benefits. UnitedHealth has also engaged Trump's associates, including top presidential fundraiser Brian Ballard and former Justice Department official Jesse Panuccio, in its lobbying efforts. The primary goal of these efforts is to address the government investigations into UnitedHealth's Medicare business.

Investors are increasingly concerned about the company's intensified lobbying efforts. While UnitedHealth reaffirmed its 2025 earnings target and confirmed consistent Medicare Advantage ratings, the company's stock has slumped 31.54% year-to-date. Despite this uncertainty, David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management increased its stake in UnitedHealth by 1,300% last quarter, according to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has been discussing severe restrictions on medicines from China, which could upend the American pharmaceutical industry. The administration has been lobbying for a crackdown on Chinese medicines, with prominent investors and corporate executives arguing for a decisive action against what they view as an existential threat. The move comes as the U.S. biotech sector struggles to keep up with China's surging biotech sector, raising concerns about the availability of promising treatments for American patients.

John McEntee, former Trump aide and head of the Office of Presidential Personnel, has registered to lobby for Tencent, the world's largest gaming company and owner of the popular WeChat app. McEntee's addition to Tencent's lobbying team represents a calculated strategy to convince regulators that Tencent should not be painted with the same brush as defense-linked Chinese firms. This move underscores a bigger story of Chinese firms navigating Washington at a time of deepening economic tensions.

UnitedHealth Boosts Washington Lobbying Budget As Trump Administration Targets Medicare Practices: Report^[1] https://www.inkl.com/news/unitedhealth-boosts-washington-lobbying-budget-as-trump-administration-targets-medicare-practices-report
U.S. Drugmakers Warn White House of Chaos as Trump ...^[2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/10/business/trump-medicines-china-biotech.html