‘It is not our job to decide whether the president is charged and convicted. As CEOs and leaders, this is how you get into trouble, ” said the CEO of one major Wall Street bank, provided they are not identified. ‘The thing that really bothers me is the erosion in civilization in everything we do. We have so many serious things to do and we absolutely have to get on with it. ”
“We need to distribute vaccines,” the CEO added. ‘We need to turn the services economy back on. This is a huge distraction. ”
These sentiments were reiterated by others who cited the need for much faster vaccine distribution and the implementation of further stimulus efforts as key, and suggested that the administration of a Senate hearing after Biden was sworn in next week, the efforts to fight the virus , could undermine and boost the economy.
A CEO at another global bank said most in his firm and in the business community: ‘just want the scream to stop. ‘
“Everyone wants to get back to normal,” he said. “We’re only a few days away. Let’s just get there. I do not think anyone is so interested in a Senate hearing after Biden takes office. They want vaccines and stimulus. ”
One prominent business group, the National Association of Manufacturers, last week proposed using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump – something Vice President Mike Pence has since said he opposes. Even privately, most executives reflect the words of the Business Roundtable, a leading Washington vote for the largest companies in the country, which on Wednesday issued a self-contained statement of accusation while emphasizing the bigger point about the Capitol uprising.
“We leave it to our elected leaders to assess the feasibility or wisdom of trying to remove the president from office in the last days,” the statement read, “but we believe the president’s behavior is inclusive.” encouraged an assault on the Capitol. and trying to overthrow the results of a legitimate, democratic election deserves the strongest condemnation. “The group has not asked for any punishment.
The desire to simply flip the page and move on to the Biden administration and a focus on vaccines and stimulus – two hopes that have driven the stock market to records in recent weeks – is widespread.
Many executives, including Republican leaders, despised Trump’s behavior and wished he would resign. But they do not want to take further action that could alienate customers or prevent further involvement with Republicans, whose policies they usually support.
“There is no doubt that people want Trump to be gone. But its politics are just an octagonal chess game in terms of accusation and removal in which we do no business, ‘said a leading bank lobbyist in Washington. “I’m not sure how or why things will end up in this now.”
This person said that some executives and business groups are less concerned about a post-inauguration hearing distracting stimulus, but are still concerned that it could impede an already worried distribution of vaccines. “We have basically had two years and certainly not a functional government for the past six months,” this person said. “We need one now. We just count the days. ”
The desire among many businesses to remain silent about the political struggle after issuing statements in the past week condemning the attacks and stopping the contributions of the campaign – in some cases only to certain Republicans and in others to both parties – will probably some Democrats and anti-rage rage. -Trump Republicans who demand that American businessmen act and play a greater role and openly plead for stronger action, even if it is the removal of the president through a trial.
“I find it incredibly disappointing that leaders in finance just want to close their eyes, turn their backs and walk away from what happened,” said economist Andrew Busch. “That’s not what leaders do. They get involved, they listen and seek the truth to help those in need. ”
“Writing letters is fun and I like that many have closed their donations to politicians,” Busch added. “It’s definitely a positive step, but they need to stay active.”
Another Wall Street banker said in an email that he was disappointed that his firm and others would do nothing more than interrupt contributions and make general statements about the disapproval of Trump and his supporters’ actions.
“The primary beneficiaries of the rule of law – those who are likely to earn more and live a better way of life – do not want to bother standing up in public for the rule of law?” said this person by email. ‘What would be their reaction if a mob, oppressed for months and years by a demagogue, were to attack a head office … rather than a government building next time? I guess it would not be in the line of ‘continue’. ”
Yet both right-wing and left-wing leaders have said in interviews that there is little point in moving forward and that they will have to reconnect with Republicans fairly soon, as the party could take back one or both houses of Congress in 2024. mid-term elections.
‘If history is a guideline, Republicans will take over the house in 2022. It’s not like we can disconnect. But we will have to be more selective, ‘said the bank’s chief executive. ‘Donald Trump has defended civilization on steroids, even if it has already happened. I do not excuse anything from his crazy behavior. ”