During the US Capitol siege on January 6 that left four dead and the building devastated, President Donald Trump posted several tweets that alleged election fraud and told the armed protesters that he "loved" them in a video.
In the two days since, Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet, only posting a halfhearted concession speech video, and most of his billionaire allies are following suit.
Few of the 101 billionaires who have donated to Trump's campaigns are publicly addressing what transpired on January 6. Insider contacted more than 20 and only four commented in time for publication.
All of the public statements made by pro-Trump billionaires have been critical of the riots, but few have condemned Trump directly for inciting the attempted coup. Commercial real-estate mogul Igor Olenicoff described the attack in an email to Insider as "very, very unfortunate" but argued that Trump was not to blame for what transpired. "Certainly no such intent or consequences were his desire," he wrote.
One of the president's biggest boosters, casino mogul Phil Ruffin, declined to comment on the insurrection at the Capitol.
Only one has gone so far as to rescind his support for Trump. "I voted for him in this past election in November," activist investor Nelson Peltz told CNBC. "Today, I'm sorry I did that.... I just hope that President-elect Biden will act to bring us together."
Here is how Trump's billionaire donors have responded to the US Capitol attack:
Bill Austin says "we did not see the best of America yesterday."
"I have traveled the globe helping people hear and have seen how many different countries transition power and elect leaders," Bill Austin, founder of Starkey Hearing Technologies, told Insider on Thursday.
"Our democracy is the greatest in the world; we did not see the best of America yesterday. It's time for Republicans and Democrats to come together and lead with compassion so our country can heal. In the last days of the Trump Presidency and for President-Elect Biden's term, I hope our leaders remember the wise words of Albert Schweitzer: 'Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.'"
The New York Times is "blaming everything on Trump", says supermarket mogul John Catsimatidis
"When you have 100,000 protesters — I don't know if they had 50,000, 100,000, 200,000 — you're always going to have 20-30 crazies," the founder of Gristedes, a major New York City supermarket chain, said in a radio interview for 77 WABC.
"I see on the front page of The New York Times that they're blaming everything on Trump. I think he addressed the audience. I didn't think he said, 'Go out and do violence,' you know, go out and do peaceful protests. And that's what everybody's entitled to ... I don't think any of his Twitter says, 'Go out and break into the Capitol.'"
During the attempted coup, Trump posted several tweets with false claims of election fraud. Twitter locked his account and removed three tweets, including one that stated, "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long."
Gov. Jim Justice condemns the events in the capitol "in the strongest possible terms"
"The violence that we are witnessing right now in Washington, DC, is absolutely unacceptable and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms," West Virginia's billionaire governor tweeted during the siege. "People have every right to have their voices heard peacefully. But there is no place in our country for this type of activity."
Ronald Lauder asks "all Americans of good will, regardless of our political or ideological views" to support the new administration
"Today is a victory for the perseverance of democracy after the brutal onslaught on our nation's integrity and historical traditions that we witnessed yesterday," the cosmetics heir said in a statement for the World Jewish Congress, which he leads.
"I commend Vice President Pence and the members of the US Congress for upholding American Constitutional norms and reminding us of the majesty of our traditions. At the same time, I unambiguously condemn the thugs and criminals who yesterday epitomized the worst elements of society by vandalizing the sacred halls and chambers of Congress, together with all who incited and abetted their unconscionable violence that also resulted in a tragic loss of life. Now is the time for all Americans of good will, regardless of our political or ideological views, to rally behind President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris and ensure that our government will successfully defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and tackle the many challenges confronting our nation and the world."
Igor Olenicoff does not blame Trump for the attempted coup, but says he needs to "go on national TV and express his regrets"
"It's very, very unfortunate what happened and even more because the blame is being put at feet of The Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America," the commercial real estate mogul told Insider. "He should go on national TV and express his regrets and apologize if anything he said was misinterpreted by the crowd to act in this fashion. Certainly no such intent or consequences were his desire. No doubt it will fall on deaf ears with the media at this point. However, it is a start."
During the attack on the Capitol, President-elect Joe Biden called for Trump to go on national TV to tell supporters to back down. Instead, Trump released a pre-recorded video on social media that repeated claims of election fraud. The following evening, Trump condemned the insurrection as a "heinous attack" and said he would work toward a "seamless transition of power" in a two-and-a-half-minute video posted to social media.
Nelson Peltz now regrets voting for Trump in the past election
The CEO of investment firm Trian Partners condemned the attacks and rescinded his support of Trump on CNBC's "Closing Bell."
"What happened yesterday is a disgrace and I as an American, I'm embarrassed," Peltz told host Sara Eisen. "You know, I didn't vote for Trump in '16. I voted for him in this past election in November. Today, I'm sorry I did that. I supported many of his policies which I still think we're good ones – trade efforts, economic policies. I think they're good for our country. But so much good was undone yesterday with what we all saw.... And I just hope that President-elect Biden will act to bring us together. He's got full control of both houses. He needs to do that. We need to heal from Trump."
Stephen Schwarzman calls for a "peaceful transition of power"
"The insurrection that followed the president's remarks today is appalling and an affront to the democratic values we hold dear as Americans," the Blackstone CEO and chairman said in a statement. "I am shocked and horrified by this mob's attempt to undermine our constitution. As I said in November, the outcome of the election is very clear and there must be a peaceful transition of power."
Warren Stephens says the armed protesters "should be fully prosecuted"
"I unequivocally condemn the rioters that breached the Capitol and those who encouraged them," the investment banker told Insider. "We cannot tolerate any threat to undermine American democracy and our electoral process. Those who participated should be fully prosecuted."
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