Blackstone Founder Schwarzman Actively Defends "Trump Has the Right to Sue"

Rebuttal Arises as Concerns Over Trump’s Refusal Surface at Business Meeting

▲Steve Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone [Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Steven Schwarzman, the founder of Blackstone, the world's largest private equity firm, drew attention on Wall Street by defending U.S. President Donald Trump's refusal to accept the election results.

According to major foreign media on the 14th (local time), Schwarzman attended an emergency CEO video conference hosted by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale University's School of Management, on the 6th, shortly after the U.S. presidential election. The meeting was arranged for senior business leaders concerned about President Trump's hint of refusal to accept the results to share their opinions. About 30 executives from major U.S. companies, including Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, and Walmart, participated.

Schwarzman's remarks began when attendees suggested the possibility of Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate, winning, saying "something significant seems to be happening" regarding the election results. He opposed this assessment, reportedly stating, "The president has the right to challenge the election results, and legal procedures will proceed." Schwarzman is known as one of the strongest Trump supporters on Wall Street, having donated $3 million to 'America First Action,' which supports Trump, last January.

He then asked the attendees, "Isn't it strange that President Trump was leading in the early vote count in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, but shortly after, Biden took the lead?" He also cited news reports, saying, "Ballots continued to arrive after Election Day, and some were reported to be from deceased individuals," emphasizing, "This is an issue that should be resolved in court, as claimed by Trump's legal team."

Blackstone responded to Schwarzman's remarks by stating, "As an American, he believes the election system is sound and that democratic procedures will proceed in an orderly and legal manner," attempting to clarify the situation.

The video conference concluded with a resolution to congratulate President-elect Biden and urge the Republican congressional leadership to ensure a smooth transfer of power.

Meanwhile, sources reported that the business leaders' meeting began with Yale history professor Tim Snyder, author of the book 'On Tyranny,' mentioning the possibility of a 'coup' in the U.S.

Professor Snyder told the CEOs, "To defeat a coup, early responses from opinion leaders, including world leaders, are crucial," adding, "If you think President Trump's actions will not succeed, it is important not just to watch how others react but to take action."

He expressed, "There were serious concerns about the president's rhetoric and the domestic reactions in the U.S.," and "It was expected that the division within the U.S. would worsen rather than ease." He also said, "None of the CEOs want a divided country."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.