'We should not sleepwalk into disaster': Jamie Dimon calls on next president to unite America

By Steve Gelsi

JPMorgan Chase Chief Executive weighs in on how the next president could unite the country.

'If we're going to truly unify our country, we need to begin treating opposing views, complaints and critiques as opportunities to find common ground and make us better.' Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co., in Aug. 2 op-ed article in The Washington Post

That's Jamie Dimon, who, on Friday, laid out the challenges facing the next U.S. president while invoking Dwight Eisenhower, Abraham Lincoln and Harry S. Truman. In a Washington Post opinion article, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase & Co. gave his thoughts ahead of a potential exit from the bank he's led since 2006.

"We should not sleepwalk into disaster - we will prevail, but we need an active, comprehensive effort," Dimon said in the article. "This is precisely the time when strong American leadership is needed to unite us and strengthen the indispensable role our country plays for the safety of the world."

Dimon did not endorse Republican nominee Donald Trump or the presumptive Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Dimon - who has been a frequent pundit through a series of interviews and public appearances - laid out five critical points for the next U.S. president in the face of the "perilous time" in the world:

Problems cannot be fixed without our leaders acknowledging them.Policies should be developed that reflect our critical place on the global stage.Smarter policies - that provide protection, progress and prosperity to all - are needed.The best team is a group of rivals.Work to earn the support of all voters.

"America has all the advantages, and we can win the future with smart policy, courageous leaders and everyone with a seat at the table moving in concert," Dimon said. "We need to elect a president who is dedicated to the ideals that define and unite us, and who is committed to restoring our faith in America and our indispensable role in the world."

Dimon has said he's not interested in a public role, but speculation has been high since he announced potential successors for his job at JPMorgan Chase early this year.

Billionaire hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman last year urged Dimon to run for president.

Also read: JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon suggests he may retire early

-Steve Gelsi

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08-02-24 1016ET

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