In the wake of the 2005 hot mic tape, and now allegations against Donald Trump of groping and inappropriate sexual advances, some big Republican donors are calling on the RNC to break ties with the Republican nominee.
“At some point, you have to look in the mirror and recognize that you cannot possibly justify support for Trump to your children — especially your daughters,” said David Humphreys, a Missouri businessman who’s donated more than $2.5 million to Republicans since the 2012 election.
Humphreys was among a group of large donors who spoke with The New York Times about the GOP’s association with Trump.
“He is a dangerous demagogue completely unsuited to the responsibilities of a United States president,” New York philanthropist and investor Bruce Kovner told the Times. “Even for loyalists, there is a line beyond which the obvious moral failings of a candidate are impossible to disregard. That line has been clearly breached.”
Many donors have stopped giving, though, and some have deserted the party, including two major donors who confirmed on Thursday that they were supporting Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor who is the Libertarian candidate for president.
Julian H. Robertson Jr., a billionaire hedge fund investor who has directed more than $5 million to Republicans since the 2012 election, is now backing Mr. Johnson, said Fraser P. Seitel, a spokesman for Mr. Robertson. And Jeffrey Yass, a Pennsylvania investor who has given more than $3 million to conservative candidates and committees, said in an email that he was “rooting for Johnson.”
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Others, meanwhile, have turned to attacking RNC Chair Reince Priebus over their frustrations with Trump.
“The R.N.C. long ago should have cut ties with Donald Trump,” California investor and major GOP donor William E. Oberndorf told the Times. “Reince should be fired and replaced with someone who has the competence and leadership skills to rebuild the R.N.C.”
Conservative radio show host Charlie Sykes has been equally hard on Priebus.
“Reince Priebus has to ask, how much of his soul does he want to sell for Donald Trump at this point?” the Milwaukee host said, adding that it’s time for Priebus to “man up.”
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