Ken Langone – the billionaire Home Depot co-founder and Republican mega donor – said he feels “betrayed” by President Trump after the siege of the Capitol last week.
Langone quashed Trump’s efforts to reverse the 2020 election results and pledged to help President-elect Joe Biden be “the best president we’ve ever had.”
“I feel betrayed,” Langone told CNBC in an interview on Wednesday. “… Last Wednesday was a shame, it should never have happened in this country, and if it doesn’t break every American’s heart, something is wrong. It sure breaks my heart. I have not signed up for that. “
Langone is a prolific donor of GOP candidates – he and his wife, Elaine, have made nearly $ 517,000 in political contributions over the past two years, of which $ 496,500 went to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
The 85-year-old financier has reportedly backed some of Trump’s economic policies, such as his tariffs on China, and made a $ 2,700 donation to the president’s 2016 campaign, federal data shows.
But he suggested that the Capitol rioters were wrong in trying to stop Biden from taking office by disrupting Congress’s counting of votes last week.
“He went through court to try and get some results – he had exhausted everything, it was over,” Langone told CNBC.
“I feel that the people who were trying to stop the trial were ill-advised,” he added.
When asked if Trump should be impeached – a move that moved the House on Wednesday – Langone answered bluntly, “I don’t care.”
“All I care about is one thing: Joe Biden will be sworn in as president on January 20 and I’m going to work hard in every way I can because I win – if he’s a great successful president, we all win,” he said.