The CEO of J.P. Morgan, Jamie Dimon, wrote a lengthy email to his entire staff condemning the attempted assassination on former president Donald J. Trump.
Dimon went into great detail on his thoughts that the country should unite against violence and engage in constructive dialogue with each other. He joins a chorus of business leaders and other big names on Wall Street supporting the Republican candidate.
Attempted Assassination of Donald J. Trump
On Saturday, a 20 year old lone-gunman was able to take a few quick shots from the roof of a barn at former president Trump while speaking to a crowd at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The widely shared videos show a surprised Trump grabbing his right ear before being tackled by secret service personnel. The shooter was immediately killed by snipers keeping tabs on the crowd, but many are left to wonder how a 20 year old gun enthusiast got so far.
Civilians Injured and Killed
One man was killed during the shooting when bullets grazed Trump’s ear and shot into the crowd of supporters behind him. Corey Comperatore was a firefighter in the area and served his community for decades.
Two other rally members were injured during the event. David Dutch, 57, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
Dimon’s Email
In his company wide email, Dimon noted that he was speaking on behalf of the entire leadership team at the company in their hopes that the former president and his family were alright following the attack.
He also took the opportunity to send a message of unity “against any acts of hate, intimidation or violence” that causes division within democracy or causes harm to others.
Constructive Dialogue for Who?
Dimon also wrote in his email that, “It is only through constructive dialogue that we can tackle our nation’s toughest challenges.” However, many people still remain critical of Trump’s policies and his ability to debate with civility.
During last month’s presidential debate, many commentators noted that Trump was his usual self on stage, hurling insults and personal attacks at President Biden. During a question about the cost of childcare, Trump remarked that the current President “can’t hit the ball 50 yards.”
A Fan of Trump Era Politics
Although the JP Morgan CEO has donated to Democratic candidates in the past, he recently praised Trump’s policy record in an interview.
Dimon stated that the former president’s grew the economy bigger and faster while saying that Trump’s policies on NATO and immigration were also correct.
Change the Way We Speak to Each Other
The CEO called on his employees to harken in an era of unity and also for Democrats to change the way they “speak about MAGA.”
However, a recent study at UC David shows that MAGA Republicans are more likely to engage in political violence. Notable events include the January 6 insurrection riot where MAGA supporters stormed the country’s capital with weapons searching for lawmakers to harm and constructing a life sized noose outside of the White House and calling for former Vice President Mike Pence to be hung.
Other Ceo’s Agree With the Statements
In an earnings call on Monday, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said that “we cannot afford division and distrust to get the better of us.”
As well, in an interview on CNBC, Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock told reporters that the shooting was a tragedy and that Americans need to discuss divisions and bring “our community together.”
Why Do CEOs Care About Politics?
A report from the Duke School of Business attempted to answer the question of why CEOs often speak out about social issues or political events.
The report outlines that CEOs and companies often benefit financially when shareholders and customers agree with their social and political leanings.
Is Trump Good for Big Business?
In the past, CEOs generally hid away from Trump and his politics. Now that he’s promising to lower corporate tax rates, they seem to be singing a different story.
During his hopeful second term, Trump has already promised a rollback of Biden-era efforts to promote market competition and strengthen worker demand. “It has always been clear that the CEOs of the Fortune 500 are not what is going to preserve democracy, and that the CEOs of the Fortune 500 work for their investors who demand insatiable amounts of profit,” said Lindsay Owens of the Groundwork Collaborative, a progressive advocacy group.
Dimon Was Not Always a Fan
Back in 2021, Jamie Dimon was part of a group calling for a condemnation of Trump and his followers after the January 6 riot.
“The country deserves better,” a group of business leaders said in a statement. They also called for world leaders “to put an end to the chaos and to facilitate the peaceful transition of power” after Trump refused to acknowledge that he was defeated.
Business Leaders Seem to Flip Flop
After large events, it seems like the biggest CEOs on Wall Street and other business leaders go where the money is.
It’s hard to say where Dimon might flip-flop next as the election in November gets closer.
