Blackstone was reported as one of the private capital firms interested in acquiring roughly half of TikTok's U.S. operations. The bid comes amid heightened political and regulatory pressure from the Trump administration, which recently extended a deadline for ByteDance to divest its U.S. TikTok business.

Blackstone Group Inc. has been named among companies targeted by Oklahoma state Treasurer Todd Russ for anti-DEI shareholder proposals. This move, part of broader efforts by the Trump administration and its allies to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, groups Blackstone with other major firms on what has been dubbed a 'MAGA hit list.'

Blackstone, in conjunction with other financial partners, led a $2.3 billion debt financing round for CoreWeave — a key move that involved leveraging Nvidia GPUs as collateral and carried notably high interest rates. This aggressive financial strategy has been viewed as part of a broader trend of enabling risky corporate financing practices that may perpetuate elite power structures.

During a high-profile roundtable in Beijing amid escalating US-China trade tensions, Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwartzman participated in a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other global executives, where Xi called on business leaders to help 'uphold global order'.

Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwartzman participated in a meeting hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping, where global executives were urged to invest in China and help 'uphold global order' amid escalating U.S.-China trade tensions.

Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, after distancing himself from Trump in earlier years, pivoted to endorsing Trump and donated over $39 million to conservative causes during the recent election cycle. This move, which comes with active engagement in shaping policy through potential administration roles, highlights the firm's deep involvement in politically polarizing maneuvers.

Steve Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone Inc., announced his support for Donald Trump's reelection bid, citing concerns over rising antisemitism and the current direction of national policies. This marks a notable reversal from his previous stance and aligns the company’s leadership with a far-right figure.

Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the upcoming presidential election and pledged support for Republican Senate candidates, aligning the firm with far‐right political interests. His remarks, citing concerns over current policies, indicate a move that could empower authoritarian political networks.

Blackstone chief executive Stephen Schwarzman publicly endorsed Donald Trump for president, framing it as a 'vote for change,' as reported by the Financial Times on May 24, 2024.

Steve Schwarzman, the CEO of Blackstone, publicly declared his support for Donald Trump in the upcoming November presidential election and highlighted his previous donation of $3 million to a Trump-affiliated super PAC in 2020. This endorsement marks a significant political engagement by the company’s leadership and signals continued financial backing for an authoritarian figure.

On May 24, 2024, Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwarzman publicly announced his endorsement of Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, signaling a significant instance of executive political engagement with potential implications for authoritarian influence.

Blackstone Inc. CEO Steve Schwarzman announced plans to raise funds for Donald Trump's campaign, marking a significant shift from his earlier stance. The move signals a return to political contributions for a far‐right candidate and highlights the increasing influence of corporate political engagement in steering political discourse.

Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman announced his support for Donald Trump and plans to donate to Trump and various Republican Senate candidates, indicating a significant political engagement with authoritarian-leaning figures.

Blackstone Group CEO Steve Schwarzman announced his support for Donald Trump in the 2024 election, marking a shift towards backing a far-right, authoritarian figure despite previous distancing after the 2020 election.

A sanitation company under Blackstone Inc.'s ownership has been ordered by federal investigators to cease child labour practices after discovering workers as young as 13 in its abattoirs. This incident raises serious concerns over the company's oversight of labor practices within its subsidiaries.

A sanitation company owned by Blackstone was ordered to stop using child labour after federal investigators discovered that workers as young as 13 were employed in abattoirs, highlighting severe labor rights violations.

Blackstone Group faces intense scrutiny after a Department of Labor investigation revealed widespread labor abuses, including child labor at Packers Sanitation Services Inc (PSSI), unsafe working conditions, and wage theft at SERVPRO franchises. These labor issues, along with concerns raised about contracted media companies amid a writers’ strike, have generated significant negative attention towards the firm’s ethical responsibilities toward workers.

An in-depth report reveals serious labor issues within Blackstone’s portfolio, including a Department of Labor investigation at Packers Sanitation Services Inc. that uncovered widespread child labor, hazardous working conditions, wage theft, discrimination, and multiple severe workplace injuries and fatalities. The report also highlights similar labor abuses at SERVPRO and concerns over labor practices at media-related companies, urging Blackstone to reform its practices to protect vulnerable workers.

On February 17, 2023, a coalition of over 20 organizations, including the Private Equity Stakeholder Project and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, sent an investor letter to Blackstone regarding 'oppressive child labor' practices at Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI). The letter followed findings from the U.S. Department of Labor that revealed hazardous working conditions, including the employment of minors in dangerous roles, and documented several injuries and safety incidents, even as Blackstone collected substantial dividends from the company.

On February 17, 2023, the US Labor Department accused Packers Sanitation Services Inc., a company backed by Blackstone, of employing children as young as 13 in hazardous overnight cleaning shifts at meatpacking plants, leading to a $1.5 million fine.

On February 17, 2023, the US Labor Department accused Packers Sanitation Services Inc., a firm backed by Blackstone Inc., of employing children as young as 13 in hazardous cleaning shifts at meatpacking plants, resulting in a $1.5 million fine.

Blackstone subsidiary Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. was sued by the U.S. Department of Labor for massive child labor violations on November 9, 2022 and subsequently settled on February 17, 2023 by paying $1.5 million in penalties, which was the maximum allowed under the law.

On February 17, 2023, a coalition of over 20 institutional investors sent an investor letter to Blackstone demanding that the firm address labor violations at its portfolio company, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. The letter highlighted documented child labor, hazardous working conditions, and severe worker injuries, including incidents investigated by OSHA and penalties issued by the U.S. Department of Labor.

A coalition including the Private Equity Stakeholder Project and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility sent an investor letter to Blackstone on February 17, 2023, demanding that Blackstone address child labor violations and hazardous working conditions at its portfolio company, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. The letter follows findings by the U.S. Department of Labor of oppressive child labor practices and multiple safety violations, including injuries and fatalities, attributed to cost-cutting measures.

On February 17, 2023, a coalition of over 20 organizations sent an investor letter to Blackstone demanding change after its portfolio company, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), was found employing hazardous child labor and exposing minors to dangerous working conditions, resulting in injuries and significant penalties.

More than 20 institutions, including the Private Equity Stakeholder Project and ICCR, sent an investor letter to Blackstone on February 17, 2023, demanding a reassessment and improvement of labor practices at its portfolio company Packers Sanitation Services Inc. The letter comes in response to a U.S. Department of Labor report that uncovered the employment of children in hazardous conditions, multiple worker injuries, and significant safety violations, highlighting systemic failings in protecting workers.

On February 17, 2023, Blackstone subsidiary Packers Sanitation Services, Inc. settled a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Labor for alleged massive child labor violations by paying $1.5 million in penalties, highlighting serious labor rights abuses.

A coalition of over 20 institutions, including the Private Equity Stakeholder Project and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, sent an investor letter demanding that Blackstone address serious labor violations at its portfolio company, Packers Sanitation Services Inc. Following a Department of Labor investigation, PSSI was fined $1.5 million for employing over 100 children in hazardous conditions, which resulted in multiple injuries. The demand underscores deep concerns about systemic exploitation and cost-cutting measures adversely impacting worker safety.

Blackstone has come under intense scrutiny from its largest investors after its subsidiary, Packers Sanitation Services, paid a $1.5 million fine for using child labor in hazardous conditions. Investigations revealed over 100 children employed in dangerous jobs, prompting major pension funds and state officials to demand accountability.

Blackstone-owned Packers Sanitation Services Inc. settled charges related to the employment of children in hazardous conditions, paying a $1.5 million fine in February 2023. The incident, described by the DOL as a systemic failure to protect minors, has intensified scrutiny from investors and public officials over Blackstone's oversight, particularly given the involvement of Blackstone executives on the board.

Access Now and allied civil society groups have called on Blackstone Group Inc. to cancel its pending deal to acquire a 40% stake in NSO Group, a company notorious for its surveillance technology that has been used by governments to spy on activists and human rights defenders. Critics argue that the deal would implicate Blackstone in enabling repressive state practices and undermine its corporate responsibility commitments.

Advocacy group Access Now has called on The Blackstone Group to cancel its pending investment in NSO Group, warning that the surveillance technology provided by NSO has been used by repressive regimes to spy on activists and human rights defenders. The demand comes amid growing concerns over ethical business practices in high-stakes finance.

After facing widespread condemnation over NSO Group's surveillance practices and their documented human rights abuses, Blackstone canceled its proposed $400 million investment in the firm. This decision aligns with growing civil society pressure and a commitment to ethical business practices.

Digital rights groups, including Access Now and Citizen Lab, have called on Blackstone to abandon its advanced talks to invest $400 million for a 40% stake in the Israeli spyware firm NSO Group. The petition and public outcry center on concerns that NSO’s surveillance technology has been used to facilitate human rights abuses and support authoritarian regimes.

A UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing accuses Blackstone Group of worsening the U.S. housing crisis through aggressive rent hikes, eviction practices, and a business model that displaces low-income and marginalized communities.