JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon blasted Democrats for “scapegoating” Trump supporters, saying on Wednesday that people voted for Trump beca...
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon blasted Democrats for “scapegoating” Trump supporters, saying on Wednesday that people voted for Trump because he was right about important issues.
Dimon joined a panel on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting this week. The billionaire executive was asked about the role the economy will play in the 2024 presidential election, and Dimon said he’s not optimistic about the position of the U.S. economy, adding that he’s concerned about the plethora of issues the country will face in the next two years.
Dimon then slammed Democrats who are focusing their 2024 political campaign on criticizing former President Donald Trump’s supporters, who made up nearly 75 million voters in 2020.
“I wish the Democrats would think a little bit more carefully when they talk about MAGA,” Dimon said, adding, “When people say ‘MAGA,’ they’re looking at people voting for Trump, and they’re basically scapegoating them, [saying] ‘You are like him.’”
“But I don’t think they’re voting for Trump because of his family values,” Dimon continued. “Just take a step back, be honest. He was kind of right about NATO, he was kind of right about immigration, he grew the economy quite well, tax reform worked, he was right about some of China.”
Dimon, who is close with former President Barack Obama, reportedly considered a presidential run against Trump in 2020, sparking Trump’s ire.
“I think I could beat Trump because I’m as tough as he is, I’m smarter than he is,” Dimon said at a company event in 2018.
Trump hit back at Dimon, saying he doesn’t have the “aptitude” or “smarts” to be president, adding that he “is a poor public speaker & nervous mess.”
Despite the war of words over five years ago, Dimon acknowledged the policy accomplishments of the former president, saying people have a good argument to vote for Trump.
“I don’t like how he said things about Mexico, but he wasn’t wrong about some of these critical issues. And that’s why they’re voting for him. And I think people should be a little bit more respectful of our fellow citizens.”
Dimon then voiced his frustration with Democrats who have demeaned Trump supporters since his campaign in 2016 when Hillary Clinton referred to them as “deplorables.”
“Can we just stop that stuff and actually grow up and treat other people respectfully,” Dimon said. “I think this negative talk about MAGA is going to hurt Biden’s re-election campaign.”