Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan, has suggested that he might contemplate entering politics on retiring from the banking industry. When asked on Bloomberg TV about having considered public office, he admitted: “Obviously, it’s crossed my mind because people mention things to you and stuff like that. … I love my country, and maybe one day I’ll serve my country in one capacity or another.” Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has already endorsed Dimon on Twitter, stating that he should run for US President, praising Dimon as an “exemplary leader” who would be able to do more for the bank and the economy if he were president.
When Engle of Bloomberg asked Dimon if he would consider accepting cabinet positions or running for public office, Dimon acknowledged the idea had crossed his mind, but that he was quite happy in his current role. The question comes against the backdrop of a $32tn US national debt and ongoing deficits, with no clarity on the end in sight for either issue. This situation makes it an opportune moment for Dimon to launch a presidential bid, says Ackman.
Dimon, however, has no immediate plans to leave his role at JPMorgan and announced only last month that he would remain at the bank for another three and a half years. He has previously expressed an interest in politics, stating in 2016 that he would have “loved to be president,” after which he had joked in 2018 about hypothetically campaigning against Donald Trump. Despite this, he has also suggested that he would not make a good politician.
While Dimon has been praised by Ackman and former President Bill Clinton as being a good fit for politics, it remains to be seen whether he will attempt to pursue the role. Until then, his focus remains on JPMorgan and the financial industry.
