JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has called on the next US president to “not pander to dirty politics or pander to extremist ideas”, but has refused to endorse either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.
The 68-year-old The Democratic Washington Post He shared his views on the upcoming presidential election in November.
“We live in perilous times. Our deeply divided nation faces both difficult domestic challenges and perhaps its most complex geopolitical situation since World War II,” Dimon wrote.
“Now is the time for strong American leadership to unite us and strengthen our nation’s vital role in global security.”
“We have faced worse situations – wars, economic upheaval and social change – and we had leaders like Presidents Lincoln, Truman and Eisenhower who guided us with common sense and pragmatism,” the Wall Street titan added.
The veteran banker is reportedly being considered as a possible candidate to become the next Treasury secretary if President Trump reclaims the keys to the White House later this year.
But Trump later walked back earlier speculation that the Queens-born billionaire was a contender, blaming the speculation on the “radical left.”
Dimon stopped short of formally endorsing Kamala Harris or the Republican candidate, but urged both candidates not to focus solely on their loyal supporters.
Harris replaced President Joe Biden, 81, as the top Democratic candidate after Biden withdrew from the running, citing concerns about his age and declining health.
“Our best leaders strengthen the ties that bind us. They address the broader interests of our country and don’t pander to mean politics or extreme ideas,” he wrote.
“Let’s unite Americans with regular, honest and open communication. We deserve a president who will explain our issues, invite input from all sides and share his plans and solutions.”
“The members of the President’s Cabinet and Administration should reflect the entire country. Tribal politics will not bring out the best talent and expertise across the political spectrum.”
But the Harvard Business School graduate has urged future commanders in chief to tap talent from the worlds of finance and commerce, and he still appears keen for a senior government position.
“The private sector has a tremendous source of expertise and creates 85 percent of our jobs. The private sector should be part of the discussion,” Dimon said in what amounted to an early job application.
“But in recent years, government leaders have often failed to engage people from business. The president should appoint the most talented people to his cabinet, including those from business and the opposing party.”
Dimon, who has been CEO of JPMorgan since 2006, has previously urged Democrats to respect Donald Trump’s MAGA movement and said he was “sort of right” on NATO and immigration.
His comments, as reported exclusively by The Washington Post in February, infuriated President Joe Biden’s administration.
Dimon said in May that JPMorgan’s succession planning was “progressing well” and that there was reportedly a three-way race between three top candidates.
They are Marianne Lake, head of consumer banking; Jennifer Piepszak, co-head of JPM’s investment and commercial banking; and Troy Lohrbaugh, the other co-CEO of commercial and investment banking.
A spokesman for the bank declined to comment, but a source close to Dimon said the bank was “not naming any particular party or candidate.”
“He thinks both sides should listen to the other, confront the issues, work together to focus on the problems, not scapegoat or attack each other, and put more emphasis on the private sector and government working together,” the source told the Post.
