Cancer often hits home, pushing us to recognize what we often take for granted.
For Jason Trennert, that recognition came through something as mundane as compliance meetings.
Being 57 and the head of Strategas Research Partners, he’s known on Wall Street for his unique insights and sometimes controversial views on President Trump’s policies. Like many, he’s never really enjoyed sitting through lengthy meetings filled with legal jargon and regulatory analysis.
Now, however, he’s found a new appreciation for those meetings. “I used to dread them, would do anything to skip out,” Trennert mentioned recently during his first discussion about his battle with cancer. “But now? I look forward to them. It feels like a privilege just to be here.”
Over the last year, Trennert has faced a tough journey with various treatments to combat cancer affecting his blood. The toll has been significant; he lost over 45 pounds and endured extended periods of weakness that sometimes kept him from working.
Among the less pleasant side effects, he’s now dealing with kidney failure and has been on dialysis three times a week while searching for a donor.
Fortunately, he’s back to work, maybe not at full strength, but well enough to make appearances on financial shows, including one on FOX Business last week. Doctors have informed him that his cancer is in remission, which definitely lifts his spirits as he looks forward to a kidney transplant.
As a fellow cancer survivor, I can relate to his experience. Although I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, it certainly reshapes your outlook. It levels you, making you realize the importance of simply cherishing life.
Full disclosure: I’ve come to consider Trennert a friend. We first crossed paths on a CNBC set about two decades ago, bonding over market strategies and a mutual love for boxing.
Since then, he’s built Strategas into a notable player on Wall Street, advising a diverse range of clients from hedge funds to pension funds.
There was a point, he said, when he was shortlisted for a significant role in Trump’s White House, a lifelong dream of his—assistant secretary of the Treasury for financial markets. But just as the announcement came, he started suffering debilitating migraines.
At first, he brushed it off, thinking it was a repeat of earlier episodes that had resolved with standard treatments.
This time, however, that wasn’t the case. Additional tests led to a daunting diagnosis: a type of blood cancer that demands the most rigorous treatment.”
He found himself at Sloan Kettering, embarking on a journey that turned out much more intense than he ever expected. The chemo and stem cell treatments pushed him to his limits physically and emotionally.
Through it all, he expresses gratitude for his partners, Nicholas Bohnsak and Dom Rissmiller, for their support in keeping the business afloat during this challenging time.
He faced further challenges, especially as his type of cancer tends to harm the kidneys. Usually, they have a self-repair mechanism, but in Trennert’s case, that wasn’t happening. Now, he’s actively looking for a kidney donor.
His wife, Bevin, plans to contribute one of her kidneys that isn’t a match for him to a donation program—hoping a match will come through for Jason in return.
“Faith means a lot to me,” Trennert remarked, noting he attends church weekly, cherishing his wife and children. His gratitude extends to friends who’ve supported him, including Bessent.
Despite these relationships, he admitted the mental toll was heavy: “I was in shock for months. I lost my sense of self, really struggled with depression.”
As he slowly regains his strength and mental clarity, it’s encouraging news as folks on Wall Street prepare for the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Trennert, often a lone wolf on views about such conferences, sees them as disconnected from the daily lives of average Americans—a sentiment that seems to have gained wider acceptance.
He was among the few who saw the Trump phenomenon coming back in 2015, predicting the real estate mogul’s shot at the presidency due to his connection to everyday concerns. Since then, he’s also anticipated the positive outcomes of Trump’s tax cuts and deregulation while cautioning about the negative impacts of the Biden administration’s spending plans.
Trennert’s insights stand out, and it’s essential we bring his voice back into the conversation.
“Things are looking more positive for me,” he shared. “Honestly, I’m just grateful to be here.”
