US Elections: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump clash over two Greek-Americans

After the authoritative confirmation of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s candidacies by the Democratic National Convention past Thursday, the electoral scenery successful the US is set. On the Republican side, Donald Trump and JD Vance proceed their run with determination, though they are much acrophobic than successful July, erstwhile they thought they were moving unopposed successful what is shaping up to beryllium a tightly contested battle. Meanwhile, the Greek-American community, particularly cardinal figures who power American nationalist opinion, are finalizing their choices.

Notably, studies amusement that successful some 2016 and 2020, the bulk of the Greek-American assemblage supported Trump against Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, respectively.

Greek-American leaders, including politicians, scientists, academics, and artists, arsenic good arsenic almighty financiers, are highly sought aft by some candidates. These individuals are seen arsenic influencers and, successful galore cases, arsenic imaginable donors. Although the Greek-American assemblage represents lone 0.6% of the electorate, the governmental power of definite individuals is importantly higher.

Their interaction extends beyond conscionable the Greek vote, influencing American nine astatine large, with galore holding salient positions connected lists of the astir influential radical successful the US. Examples of specified figures see the precocious businessmen Alex Spanos and Peter George Peterson, long-time supporters of the Republicans, who were among the apical 10 astir influential figures successful American nationalist opinion. Peterson adjacent served arsenic Secretary of Commerce nether President Richard Nixon. For Greece, the captious question is whether these figures are consenting and capable to connection invaluable enactment connected nationalist issues.

The Banker

The run teams of some statesmanlike candidates are fiercely competing for the favour of 2 salient Greek-American figures. The archetypal is the apical and highest-paid banker connected Wall Street, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase. Dimon is 1 of the astir important figures successful the American economical and concern scene, having played a important relation successful preventing the illness of the banking strategy during the 2008 crisis.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has shifted from being an hostile to an state of Trump and vice versa!

Since then, his positions person been a barometer for American developments. It is nary coincidence that his sanction has been mentioned arsenic a imaginable statesmanlike candidate. Dimon has been a vocal professional of Trump’s policies, peculiarly his protectionist policies towards China and Europe, arsenic good arsenic his handling of the indebtedness contented and his struggle with the Biden administration. Additionally, Dimon has called for higher taxes connected the affluent to alleviate the load connected lower-income groups. His yearly missive to JP Morgan shareholders past twelvemonth was seen arsenic a governmental manifesto, putting him astatine likelihood with Trump’s halfway policies.

The struggle reached a highest erstwhile Dimon urged Republicans past November to enactment Trump’s rival, Nikki Haley. Trump responded with dismissive remarks, saying, “I was ne'er a large instrumentality of his, but I had to woody with him erstwhile helium came begging (!) astatine the White House.”

Reconciliation

However, the concern has changed somewhat since then. Reports suggest a concealed gathering betwixt the 2 men that resolved their differences. In January, astatine the World Economic Forum successful Davos, Dimon praised aspects of Trump’s policies connected NATO, immigration, the economy, and China.

Recently, aft an attempted assassination against Trump, Dimon was the archetypal caput of a large American institution to explicit his beardown enactment for the erstwhile president successful an email to JP Morgan employees. This was followed by Trump’s bombshell remark successful an interrogation with Bloomberg Businessweek: “I person large respect (!) for Jamie Dimon. He is idiosyncratic I would decidedly consider,” successful effect to a question astir whether Dimon could beryllium his adjacent Treasury Secretary.

Dimon near Trump’s remark unaddressed, but it sent shockwaves done the Democratic Party. Harris’s run squad is striving to support Dimon’s neutrality successful the predetermination and does not privation to springiness the content that Trump has gained Dimon’s trust, perchance sending a awesome to the concern assemblage to ballot for Trump. Their eventual extremity is to bring Dimon backmost to his accepted values, which would awesome renewed alignment with Democratic policies.

It seems they person had immoderate success. In an sentiment portion successful the Washington Post successful aboriginal August, Dimon stated that “the state needs a president similar Lincoln, Truman, oregon Eisenhower, who led the federation guardant successful hard times by addressing nationalist interests without veering to extremes.” He added that “the caller president indispensable make policies that make adjacent opportunities, turn the economy, code nationalist debt, support a beardown military, power the borders, and renew nationalist pridefulness portion pursuing a smart, no-nonsense overseas policy.”

This marked a partial instrumentality to his accepted governmental stance. The displacement became much evident when, successful his connection to tackle the US’s monolithic $35 trillion debt, helium reiterated his telephone for higher taxes connected the wealthy, thing Trump would ne'er consider. However, the conflict for Dimon’s enactment continues.

The 3rd Richest

Another cardinal fig is Trump’s idiosyncratic person and the 3rd richest Greek-American, John Catsimatidis. With roots successful Kalymnos, helium is the proprietor of Red Apple, a institution dominating the supermarket marketplace connected the East Coast, a starring skyscraper developer, and an vigor assemblage entrepreneur progressive successful modular atomic reactors. He besides owns a vigor presumption successful New York, wherever Trump has been a guest, and the 2 men often conscionable successful backstage clubs to speech views oregon play golf.

John Catsimatidis aligns with the Republicans, and Kamala Harris’s squad considers it a triumph if they tin transportation him to stay neutral.

Catsimatidis ran for New York City Mayor successful the 2013 Republican superior but mislaid the information to erstwhile Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota. His daughter, Andrea, has been the seat of the New York Republican Party since 2017 (and a erstwhile spouse of Richard Nixon’s grandson, Christopher), and she is besides a idiosyncratic person of Melania Trump.

Catsimatidis’s power successful the Greek-American assemblage is significant, arsenic helium is simply a person successful assemblage events, supports religion activities, is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, engages successful extended philanthropy, and often visits Greece, maintaining beardown ties with politicians and businesspeople. Harris’s run squad wants to propulsion him distant from Trump’s influence, arsenic they see him the astir influential Greek-American connected the East Coast aft Dimon. Although Catsimatidis maintained a somewhat neutral stance earlier 2012, adjacent leaning toward the Democrats, specified a displacement present seems astir intolerable owed to his adjacent narration with Trump. Nonetheless, the Democrats person exerted each kinds of unit to physique bridges with him.

Backing Trump

In 72 nights from now, erstwhile the full satellite volition enactment up precocious watching the US statesmanlike predetermination results, immoderate of the apical Greek-American businessmen volition person adjacent much reasons to expect the outcome, arsenic they person placed their bets exclusively connected 1 of the 2 candidates, Kamala Harris oregon Donald Trump. These alleged “wings” of the 2 candidates are not few.

Dean Spanos

A beardown protagonist of Trump is Dean Spanos, the lad and successor of Alex Spanos successful the eponymous empire. The household has a accepted narration with the Republicans and a idiosyncratic narration with the Bushes. Although George W. Bush has severed ties with the Trump camp, the Spanos family, with a $2.4 cardinal legacy, has continued to enactment Trump since 2016. In summation to existent property connected the West Coast, Spanos is besides the proprietor of the NFL team, the Los Angeles Chargers. Another Republican protagonist is Ted Leonsis, a salient fig successful the sports and amusement industry, based successful Washington, and the founder, president, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Wizards of the NBA.

George Argyros, with a beardown beingness successful existent estate, is intimately connected to the Republicans. He antecedently served arsenic the U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra and was the proprietor of the Seattle Mariners shot team, which helium sold successful 1989. Another protagonist of Trump is John Calamos, known for his earlier involvement successful National Insurance, and a large shareholder successful the eponymous concern money with a nett worthy of $1 billion. The institution helium founded successful 1977, based successful Chicago, has offices successful New York, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Miami.

Ted Leonsis, Chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment

A important “transfer” from the Democrats is Andrew Liveris, erstwhile president and CEO of Dow Chemical Company, who has supported Trump since helium asked him to instrumentality implicit the presidency of the American Industrial Council. Also, determination are the successors of Michael Zaharis’ pharmaceutical empire. Michael Psaros, of Chian descent, is simply a co-managing spouse of KPS Capital Partners, 1 of the world’s starring backstage equity firms, with assets nether absorption exceeding $21 billion.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is considered a protagonist of the Republicans, though helium attended and prayed astatine the conventions of some parties. However, dissimilar his predecessors, Mr. Elpidophoros did not conscionable with either Trump oregon Harris, limiting his activities to events wrong the Greek-American community.

George Argyros, existent property entrepreneur

Michael Psaros, KPS Capital Partners

Supporting Trump is besides Christos Karafatsos, a cardinal typical of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump and laminitis of the Greek Voices for Trump group, established during the 2016 elections.

Archbishop Elpidophoros

Another adjacent subordinate is Philip Nicozisis, caput of the existent property improvement institution Nico Properties Group LLC. A regular sponsor, helium is portion of the elite ellipse of members astatine the renowned Mar-a-Lago play edifice owned by the erstwhile president, which during his presidency had go the astir exclusive and sought-after nine successful the world.

Congress Members:

Among Congress members, salient is the Greek-American Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who was brought to the forefront by Trump. In an authoritative statement, citing the presumption of the Republican Party Committee successful Staten Island, she endorsed Trump adjacent earlier Nikki Haley withdrew from the interior contention pursuing his overwhelming triumph connected what is known arsenic Super Tuesday. A Greek from her father’s broadside and Cuban from her mother’s, the 44-year-old Malliotakis, with studies successful Communication and Public Relations astatine Seton Hall University successful New Jersey, was besides a campaigner for politician of New York successful 2017, but mislaid to Democrat Bill de Blasio.

Malliotakis volition question re-election successful the 11th District, which includes Staten Island and confederate Brooklyn. The district’s creation remained unchanged contempt the Democratic Party bulk successful the State Senate having the powerfulness to marque it much “progressive” by redrawing the vicinity boundaries. Thus, the Greek-American Congresswoman is moving successful an electoral assemblage that was peculiarly affable to Trump successful some 2016 and 2020, compared to the remainder of New York City. Also notable is 61-year-old Gus Bilirakis, a Congressman from Florida since 2007, wherever helium succeeded his father, Michael. With household roots successful Kalymnos and studies successful Political Science astatine the University of Florida and Law astatine Stetson University, besides successful Florida, helium is an progressive lawyer successful the Tampa area, wherever determination is simply a important Greek-American presence.

A peculiar ambiance prevails successful Trump’s run regarding the Greek-American element. Among the officials who supported him during his presidency, lone Michael Kratsios, past caput of the U.S. Technology Office, remains palmy and progressive connected his side. Reince Priebus remained White House Chief of Staff for conscionable six months, George Gigicos, erstwhile Deputy Assistant to Trump, was fired by him, portion Foreign Policy Advisor George Papadopoulos was accused of providing mendacious accusation to the FBI astir his contacts with Vladimir Putin, agreed to cooperate with national investigators, and was yet convicted, but Trump granted him a afloat pardon soon earlier his presidency ended.

Kamala Harris’ Supporters:

In the Harris camp, Greek-American supporters whitethorn beryllium less successful number, but immoderate play a important relation successful American nationalist affairs, with the astir salient being Eleni Kounalakis-Tsakopoulos, Lieutenant Governor of California, who exerts important power connected the Democratic statesmanlike candidate. Their acquaintance dates backmost to the mid-’90s and remains close. Since then, they often speech household visits, but much often pass by telephone astir governmental and economical matters, a concern that did not alteration adjacent erstwhile Harris moved to the White House; connected the contrary, Kounalakis’ visits to Washington became much frequent.

The 2nd girl of the 88-year-old Angelo Tsakopoulos, an iconic fig successful the Greek-American assemblage and a existent property magnate who has made galore donations to Democratic candidates’ campaigns, she is simply a palmy businesswoman with a diplomatic vocation arsenic an ambassador to Budapest.

She has been elected doubly arsenic Lieutenant Governor successful California, with her contiguous extremity being to go the archetypal pistillate politician of the authorities successful 2026. A presumption of unthinkable power, arsenic the economy, with an yearly GDP of $3.5 trillion, ranks 5th globally.

George Tsunis

Notable is besides the beingness of the outgoing ambassador to Athens, and palmy entrepreneur chiefly successful the edifice manufacture connected the U.S. Northeast Coast, George Tsunis. A “child” of Biden, who appointed him ambassador to Athens successful 2021, helium has developed a precise adjacent idiosyncratic narration with the outgoing president for 25 years. With roots successful Nafpaktia, helium has adjacent relationships with galore apical Democratic officials successful Long Island and New York, senators and congressmen, and has been a donor to Democratic campaigns since 2008. He is well-acquainted with Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. His instrumentality to the U.S. wrong the adjacent six months volition fortify Greek positions successful the Democratic leadership, with the anticipation of him being utilized successful a authorities position.

Among different Greek-American figures supporting Harris is George Logothetis, caput of the Libra Group, a accepted protagonist of the Democrats. With precocious governmental connections, during Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, his assignment arsenic a curate was considered highly likely.

Also important is the beingness of West Coast existent property magnate George Marcus, with a luck of $1.7 cardinal and based successful San Francisco. He is personally connected to Harris, was 1 of the largest donors to Biden’s campaign, offering $1 million, and is already contributing to the vice president. Another salient fig is Peter Barris, a long-time donor to Democratic candidates.

Peter Barris, capitalist astatine New Enterprise Associates, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

A palmy capitalist nether the umbrella of New Enterprise Associates and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Also, lawyer John Angelos, heir to the $2.2 cardinal empire of his precocious begetter Peter, a staunch protagonist of the Democrats for decades successful Baltimore, and astatine 1 constituent a contender for the mayoralty. Similarly, Dennis Mehiel, a accordant donor to Democratic candidates since the John Kerry era, who mislaid to Bush successful 2004, with full contributions reaching $2 million. He owns a ample insubstantial packaging institution successful New York.

Greek-American erstwhile San Francisco politician Art Agnos, a long-time acquaintance of Harris, besides wields sizeable influence, arsenic does the Greek-American caput of Leadership 100, Maria Olwyn, astatine whose luxurious seaside villa the Bidens often vacation. The affluent widow of New York hedge money magnate James Olwyn is besides a long-time donor to the Democratic Party and its candidates. Additionally, the Washington lobbyists Eddie and Mike Manatos of Manatos & Manatos, arsenic good arsenic the apical histrion with Greek roots, Jennifer Aniston, are besides notable.

John Angelos, distinguished lawyer

Furthermore, among the Greek-American members of Congress, John Sarbanes, a 62-year-old lawyer and Maryland Congressman since 2007, stands out. He is the lad of Paul Sarbanes, a beardown protagonist of nationalist issues, who has often visited Greece since childhood.

The 44-year-old Chris Pappas is the rising prima of the Democrats, a Congressman from New Hampshire. A Harvard graduate, helium is besides a staunch protagonist of Greek interests successful Congress, arsenic is the 74-year-old Dina Titus, a Political Science prof and Nevada Congresswoman.

John Sarbanes, Congressman from Maryland since 2007

The Neutrals:

In a presumption of strict neutrality from the predetermination contention are brothers Tom and Alex Gores (the erstwhile is simply a large capitalist and proprietor of the Detroit Pistons) with activities successful technology, entertainment, and more. Also, Jim Davis, proprietor of the sports footwear and apparel institution New Balance, with $4.4 cardinal successful gross successful 2022, a planetary workforce of 8,000 people, and manufacturing units successful the U.S., the U.K., and Europe. The aforesaid goes for the Hasiotis family, which owns a immense market chain.

The “neutralization” of erstwhile ardent protagonist of Clinton, Obama, and Biden, John-Paul DeJoria, a apical entrepreneur successful the hairsbreadth attraction and spirits industry, arsenic good arsenic Dean Metropoulos, who, arsenic caput of Metropoulos & Co., has focused for 4 decades connected acquisitions and restructuring businesses successful the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe, is considered a nonaccomplishment for the Democrats.