Corporate profits and stock valuations are genuinely high while many Americans report affordability pressure — that core dynamic is real. But the claim that CEOs broadly 'understand' this is a problem oversimplifies: some high-profile business leaders do advocate wealth taxes, but others like Vornado's Steven Roth actively push back against redistribution ideas. Job growth remains strong (115K added in April with low unemployment), which complicates the 'struggling' narrative without negating genuine cost-of-living concerns.