From Apple to Facebook to General Motors: Even the heads of the largest US corporations criticized the president after the escalation in Washington.
Associations and company bosses in the USA fear for the stability and democracy in the country in the face of the violent storm of Trump supporters on the Capitol in Washington. The reaction of the President of the US industrial association National Association of Manufacturers to the revolt on Wednesday was the sharpest: Your boss Jay Timmons called for impeachment proceedings against the loser Donald Trump by the still ruling Republican government. US President Trump has “incited violence while trying to stay in power,” he said.
The industry association represents 14,000 companies, including Exxon Mobil, Pfizer and Toyota. Several prominent company bosses also expressed concern on social networks or called for the division in the population to be overcome after the US election. The Business Roundtable, an association of chief executives, called on Trump and all other responsible parties to “end the chaos and facilitate a peaceful transfer of power”.
What happened in the capital was the result of illegal efforts to abolish legitimate results of a democratic election, with Apple boss Tim Cook calling for those responsible for the uproar to be held accountable.
The boss of the investment bank JPMorgan Chase Jamie Dimon was one of the first to speak out with the appeal: “Our elected representatives are responsible for calling for an end to violence, accepting the election results and, as in our democracy, a peaceful change of power in hundreds of years to support.”
Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, a Trump ally, also expressed concern. The riot is terrible and an affront to the democratic values of the Americans. “I am shocked and appalled by this mob's attempt to undermine our constitution,” he added.
Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg said, according to a spokesman, that Trump's video message about the rioting had been removed because the situation had to be treated like an emergency. “Our political leaders must set an example and put the nation first.”
The head of the car manufacturer General Motors, Mary Barra, called on Twitter to reconcile the country and to strengthen its values and ideals again.
The peaceful transition of power is a cornerstone of American democracy, and regardless of politics the violence at the US Capitol does not reflect who we are as a nation. It's imperative that we come together as a country and reinforce the values and ideals that unite us.
– Mary Barra (@mtbarra) January 6, 2021
