Republican mega-donor Ken Griffin believes it is time for the Republican Party to look beyond former President Donald Trump and toward a new party leader.
Griffin told Politico that he supported the Trump administration’s fiscal policies, but that the party should gravitate toward other GOP stars.
“He did a lot of things really well and missed the mark on some important areas,” Griffin said. “And for a litany of reasons, I think it’s time to move on to the next generation.”
Trump has repeatedly hinted that he will run for president again in 2024, including at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday for Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz and gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano.
“Everybody, I promise you, in the very next — very, very, very short period of time, you’re going to be happy,” Trump said. “But first we have to win a historic victory for Republicans on Nov. 8.”
Griffin, the CEO of Citadel, is a supporter of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose name has also been floated as a possible presidential candidate in 2024.
The businessman admitted he disagreed with some of DeSantis’ actions as governor, such as flying migrants to Martha’s Vineyard and revoking Disney World’s special tax status due to the company’s opposition to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act.
“I have no qualms with the very public fight, but the revocation of Disney’s special tax district felt like retribution,” Griffin said.
Still, Griffin believes the governor has a “tremendous record” and that the U.S. would be “well-served” by a DeSantis presidency. Griffin was the leading donor to DeSantis’ 2022 re-election campaign, donating $5 million.
“Would I support him? The bigger question is, is he going to run? That bridge has to be crossed,” he said.
The remarks about DeSantis come after Trump referred to the Florida governor as “Ron DeSanctimonious” just days before the midterm elections.
Griffin stated last year that if Trump decided to run again, he would not support him.
“I think it’s time for America to move on,” Griffin told Bloomberg TV last year, adding that Trump is “pointlessly divisive.”
