JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon today broke his silence on Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election.
Dimon, along with other top banking executives, issued a note to staff congratulating Trump for defeating Kamala Harris.
This comes despite Dimon, worth about $2.4 billion, privately endorsing Harris ahead of Tuesday’s vote. He had expressed concern about Trump’s denial of the 2020 election results.
It also emerged Wednesday that Dimon will not accept any offers to join the Trump administration, amid rumors that he was wanted for a White House role.
Instead, a bank source told Reuters who will remain at JPMorgan Chase, where he has served as CEO for 19 years.
Dimon had recently been the subject of speculation by both Republicans and Democrats as a possible candidate for Treasury secretary.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon congratulated Donald Trump for defeating Kamala Harris in the US presidential election.
In JPMorgan Chase’s statement Wednesday, bank executives referenced a message from Dimon when polls closed Tuesday night.
“As Jamie said yesterday, we must now “begin the work of uniting our nation and focusing on the urgent economic and global issues before us,” the memo said.
“Our firm has a long history of working across the political spectrum and looks forward to engaging the new administration and elected officials of both parties.”
Dimon called this year’s presidential election “one of the closest and at times divisive elections in our recent history,” in his statement to the Wall Street Journal yesterday.
“It will soon be time for all of us to unite behind our president-elect and all of our national leaders,” Dimon said.
“We must begin the work of uniting our nation and focusing on the urgent economic and global issues before us.”
Dimon privately endorsed Harris during the presidential election despite praising some of Trump’s policies, according to research by the New York Times.
The businessman reportedly did not publicly endorse Harris due to his fear of retaliation from Trump.
“With Jamie, it’s interesting because he presents himself as an important leader who transcends his own business needs,” Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, told the New York Times.
“If you were truly concerned about the nation and all the values you claim to be concerned about, not only would you not be supporting Trump, you would openly, angrily, and make sure with all your might that Trump does not get another chance at the White House.” .
Dimon, a registered Democrat, issued a statement early last month denying his endorsement of Trump.
‘I’m not endorsing anyone right now. “I spend more time on politics,” Dimon said through a spokesperson at the time.
‘What is the policy we need that can really help the world, foreign policy and domestic policy?’
Dimon publicly denied endorsing Trump in a statement earlier this month.
Dimon explained that his chances of being a member of Trump’s cabinet were “almost zero”
The JPMorgan Chase CEO was the subject of speculation for weeks as a candidate for Treasury secretary by Republicans and Democrats.
Dimon discussed last month with a Wells Fargo stock analyst that there was little or no chance of him taking a high-level position in the U.S. government.
“I think the chance of that happening is slim to none and I’m probably not going to do it,” Dimon said.
“I tend to do what I’m doing – I almost guarantee I’ll do this – for a long period of time, or at least until the board kicks me out.”
The JPMorgan Chase team also congratulated Vice President-elect JD Vance and the U.S. representatives elected to serve in Congress and state and local offices.
“JPMorganChase strives to be a place where people of different backgrounds and beliefs can come together with a common sense of purpose and mission,” the memo said.
“We are hopeful for the future and the role we will play in addressing together some of the most pressing challenges facing Americans and our country.”