Billionaire GOP donor Ken Langone gushed about President Trump’s success in the White House – a stunning reversal after calling his tariffs “bulls–t” just a few months ago.
Langone, co-founder of Home Depot and chairman of NYU Langone’s board of trustees, said he had been worried that Trump would use his time in the Oval Office “to engage in retribution.”
“I’m happy to say that I’m comfortable he’s not doing that. He’s acting presidential. I’m impressed with the people he’s got around him,” like former Fed governor Kevin Warsh, Langone told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Tuesday.
The billionaire in April slammed the president’s tariffs as “bulls–t” during an interview with the Financial Times – which has left Trump “a little pissed off at me,” Langone said Tuesday.
He said he had been worried that Trump’s levies could reheat inflation and raise the budget deficit.
But he now believes the “big, beautiful” GOP bill will “trigger significant economic growth, that we might see tax revenues going up from the profitability.”
In April, Trump’s harsh “Liberation Day” taxes spooked investors and caused a massive stock sell-off.
But in recent days, markets have largely shrugged off the latest tariff threats, remaining near all-time highs even as the president has threatened duties as high as 50% on many nations.
Wall Street has been able to withstand the latest headlines as investors bank on tariff rates coming down during negotiations, or Trump backing off the initial rates.
“Like it or not, this guy’s getting things done,” Langone said of Trump.
“If I told you how bullish I was…I have never been more excited about the future of America than I am right now, right this minute.”
He noted that Trump’s strike on Iranian nuclear facilities acts as a symbol “that America’s here and when our interests are at risk we’re going to do something about it.”
Langone on Tuesday also shared his concerns over a rise in antisemitism, particularly among young Americans, as he tore into Zohran Mamdani, the 33-year-old socialist who won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.
“I’m very vocal about it because so much in my life has revolved around Jews, all the good – doctors, friends, business partners, you name it,” Langone said.
“I don’t even understand the Jews sometimes. Thirty percent of Jewish voters voted for this guy [Mamdani] last week in New York. After what he said? I mean, give me a break.”
Mamdani had refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which has been seen as a call to violence against Jews, during the Democratic primary race.
When pressed by Big Apple business leaders during a meeting Tuesday, Mamdani said he would not use the anti-Israel phrase and would “discourage” others from doing so, according to attendees.
