Republican mega-donor Bernie Marcus said Tuesday he will likely still give money to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid if the former president is convicted — but the billionaire doesn’t plan to be one of his biggest financial backers.
Marcus, co-founder of home improvement retailer Home Depot, announced earlier this month that he is endorsing Trump, the runaway frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination contest that begins Jan. 15 in Iowa.
Trump faces four criminal cases, including state and federal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump, 77, has denied any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty in all four cases.
The unprecedented legal turmoil has raised questions about what will happen to Trump’s campaign if he is convicted or jailed.
Bernie Marcus said Tuesday he would still give money to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid if the former president is convicted of a crime. Getty Images
Asked in an interview with Reuters if he would still support Trump if he were convicted, Marcus replied, “I think so. Because I think it’s all made up.”
Marcus, 94, who supported Trump’s White House runs in 2016 and 2020, said he had spoken with the former president recently.
“I never discussed his legal fees or his legal problems,” Marcus said, adding that Trump was “very happy” about his endorsement.
Marcus is the co-founder of home improvement retailer Home Depot. AFP via Getty Images
Marcus and his wife Billi Wilma Marcus were the seventh largest individual Republican donors in the 2020 election cycle, giving nearly $25 million to Republican campaigns, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit group that tracks money in politics.
Business magazine Forbes estimates Marcus’ net worth at around $8.8 billion.
Marcus would not be specific about his donation this time, saying only that he would support Trump in the primary and in the general election against Biden in November 2024, should Trump become the nominee.
However, Marcus cautions he will not be the main financial supporter.
“Of course, I’ll support him to some extent, but I’m not one of his big givers, that’s for sure,” said Marcus.
Marcus said he would only support Trump in the primaries and in the general election against Biden in November 2024. Getty Images
The billionaire said he also likes Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but doesn’t think they can beat Trump in a nomination contest.
Marcus said he thinks Trump is a “fixer” who will benefit the US economy and be strong on Middle East foreign policy.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
