Recently, billionaire and Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone, who is well-known for supporting Republican candidates, has thrown his support behind a moderate Democrat.
On Wednesday, Langone announced that he plans to hold a fundraiser for Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. The announcement arrives after Manchin prevented the inclusion of various elements of Joe Biden’s enormous social spending package.
The multi-trillion dollar package remains under negotiation by various Democrats in Congress.
"I don't see leadership any place in this country. Thank god for Joe Manchin. The guy gots guts and courage … I'm going to have one of the biggest fundraisers I've ever had for him. He's special," says Ken Langone on @Sen_JoeManchin. pic.twitter.com/HUkZHdI41a
— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) November 10, 2021
In an interview with Squawk Box on CNBC, Langone declared that increasing inflation will continue to cause suffering amongst the American people.
Per Langone, inflation exemplifies a “regressive tax” that will ultimately hurt the lower socioeconomic classes the “hardest of all.”
“Thank God for Joe Manchin,” Langone exclaimed, adding that he does not personally see “[any] leadership any place in this country.”
However, Manchin has earned the admiration of Langone, who praises the senator’s “courage” and “guts,” especially in the face of enormous Democrat pressure to pass enormous spending bills.
Consequently, Langone intends to hold “one of the biggest fundraisers” for Manchin, in spite of the fact that Langone is a Republican and Manchin is a Democrat.
“I’m going to have one of the biggest fundraisers I’ve ever had for [Manchin],” Langone proclaimed, adding that the senator is “precious,” “special,” and “a great American.”
Per various records that originate from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Langone has not provided any financial contributions to any of Manchin’s prior political campaigns. However, in the past, Langone has contributed financially to some other Democrat representatives.
Langone also openly supported 45th President Donald Trump over the course of his 2016 campaign; however, he indicated that he felt “betrayed” by the Trump administration that overtook Capitol Hill on January 6.
The billionaire publicly commented on the riot just a week after its occurrence during another appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box.
“[January 6] was a disgrace, and [it] should never have happened in this country,” Langone said at the tijme.
“If it doesn’t break every American’s heart, something is wrong,” he continued, noting that it “breaks [his] heart, for sure.”
“I didn’t sign up for that,” Langone concluded.
