Billionaire and Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, a serious Republican donor, says he’s sitting on the sidelines of the GOP presidential main and never supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who he backed in 2022.

Griffin is just not impressed with what he is seeing from the alternate options to front-runner Donald Trump and has but to resolve who he plans to assist, he stated in an interview with CNBC’s Sara Eisen set to air Monday at 8:00 p.m. ET.

“I am nonetheless on the sidelines as to who to assist on this election cycle,” Griffin stated. “Look, if I had my dream, we would have a terrific Republican candidate within the main who was youthful, of a unique technology, with a unique tone for America. And we would have a youthful particular person on the Democratic aspect within the main, who would have his message for our nation.”

With two youthful, brisker candidates, “We might have a debate round concepts and rules and insurance policies to make this a terrific nation,” he stated. “We’re not having that dialogue proper now.”

Griffin has an estimated internet price of $35 billion, and he gave greater than $100 million in the course of the 2022 midterms to a mixture of a state and federal candidates, with virtually all of it going towards Republicans. Griffin gave $5 million in 2021 to a political motion committee backing DeSantis’ profitable reelection bid, in keeping with state marketing campaign finance information.

His sidelining within the GOP main means, no less than for now, one of many get together’s largest contributors is not going to be placing his appreciable monetary assets towards a candidate difficult Trump’s huge benefit.

The previous president leads the first area by no less than 50 share factors, in keeping with the newest Quinnipiac ballot.

Every day that passes with donors like Griffin staying out of the Republican main is a day the cash race accrues to Trump’s profit.

“Because the presidential campaigns unfold, I’m assessing how the insurance policies of every candidate will deal with the challenges going through our nation,” Griffin stated later in a press release to CNBC. “I care deeply about particular person rights and freedom, financial insurance policies that encourage prosperity and upward mobility, all youngsters gaining access to a high-quality schooling, making certain our communities are protected, and a powerful nationwide protection.”

As for DeSantis, Griffin does not perceive the technique of the Florida governor’s presidential marketing campaign.

Earlier than the Florida governor launched a run for the White Home, Griffin stated “our nation can be well-served by [DeSantis] as president.”

However not anymore. “I do not know his technique,” Griffin stated, referring to DeSantis’ 2024 marketing campaign. “It is not clear to me what voter base he’s meaning to enchantment to.”

The newest Quinnipiac ballot reveals DeSantis with 12% of assist versus Trump’s 62% within the Republican main.

Griffin praised DeSantis for the way he ruled Florida throughout his first time period, calling it, “phenomenal,” however added, this “hasn’t been how this previous few months have performed out.”

Certainly one of his present points with DeSantis’ second time period as governor is the struggle he has waged towards Disney. “The continuing battle with Disney, I feel, is pointless,” stated Griffin. “It does not mirror effectively on the ethos of Florida.”

The combat between DeSantis and Disney began final 12 months, when the corporate stated it opposed Florida’s so-called Do not Say Homosexual invoice, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identification for college kids in public college.

After Disney got here out towards the invoice, DeSantis and his allies focused the particular tax district that had allowed Disney to successfully self-govern its Orlando-area theme parks for many years. Disney and DeSantis at the moment are locked in dueling lawsuits.