The world’s billionaires don’t understand why you’re so worried about Donald Trump.
That’s the message out of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where global business leaders, diplomats and journalists gather, mostly to compliment each other. “Several business executives have noted a theme in their private discussions during the summit,” CNBC reported this week. “U.S. industry leaders seem overwhelmingly nonplussed with a second Trump term.”
The attendee whose comments drew the most notice was JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who went on the record with his. “I wish the Democrats would think a little more carefully when they talk about MAGA,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” as he praised the many things he said Trump got “kind of right.”
As Trump likely locks up the Republican nomination for a third time, we’re hearing the same denials we heard eight years ago.
“He was kind of right about NATO, kind of right on immigration,” Dimon argued (though he didn’t say whether Trump’s claim that immigrants “are poisoning the blood of our country” is “kind of right”). “He grew the economy quite well. Trade. Tax reform worked. He was right about some of China.”
“I don’t like how Trump said things about Mexico,” Dimon continued, “but he wasn’t wrong about some of these critical issues. That’s why they’re voting for him. People should be more respectful of our fellow citizens.”
Other business leaders were more emphatic in their dismissals. “We have a justice system,” one “prominent U.S. business executive” told CNBC. “Congress will probably be divided. It’s right to be cautious, but it won’t be the end of the world.” A U.S. bank CEO claimed Trump was “all bark and no bite.”
We heard similar assurances during the 2016 campaign and before Trump assumed office. “Calm down. We’ll be fine no matter who wins,” pundits told us. We were told that we shouldn’t take Trump literally and that…
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