Big-name, billionaire CEOs are publicly supporting former President Donald Trump. According to "Shark Tank’s" Kevin O’Leary, there are two reasons for this.
"There's two sets of endorsements," O’Leary explained on "The Big Money Show" Monday. "One is [to] deplore, talking about how assassination attempts are just un-American in every way. And that's what many CEOs and business leaders did."
"But this time around, in terms of business leaders actually endorsing a candidate, particularly Trump," he added, "I think people are starting to anticipate policy decisions."
Public figures and business leaders like Apple CEO Tim Cook, fellow "Shark Tank" star Mark Cuban, JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and more reacted on social media. They expressed shock, sorrow, and prayers over the attempted assassination of Trump during a campaign rally Saturday in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump was grazed by a bullet that pierced his upper right ear after he turned to his right while addressing the crowd from a podium. One attendee, Corey Comperatore, was killed in the shooting while two other rallygoers were wounded.
While Cook, Cuban, Dimon, Zuckerberg, and company-wide statements from Microsoft and BlackRock all condemned Saturday’s tragedy and expressed deep sympathy for Trump, Musk and hedge fund manager Bill Ackman pledged their vote for Trump in November.
"But the reason you would get a CEO endorsing Trump is probably that the environment for business will be better," O’Leary reacted.
American business leaders’ biggest bet will be on the energy sector, according to the O’Leary Ventures chairman. Trump’s pro-clean oil, gas, and domestic production stances could change the game.
"That is going to change the game in America for the energy sector," the "Shark Tank" investor said. He noted its potential around LNG exports and increasing reserve capacity.
"Trump is a de-regulator," he continued. "He keeps saying, I want innovation, not regulation. So you're going to get this environment no matter what sector you're a specialist in, and you're going to say, ‘Wait a second, it's a game changer.’"