US Elections: Kamala Harris and Donald Trump clash over two Greek-Americans

After the official confirmation of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s candidacies by the Democratic National Convention last Thursday, the electoral landscape in the US is set. On the Republican side, Donald Trump and JD Vance continue their campaign with determination, although they are more concerned than in July, when they thought they were running unopposed in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested battle. Meanwhile, the Greek-American community, especially key figures who influence American public opinion, are finalizing their choices.

Notably, studies show that in both 2016 and 2020, the majority of the Greek-American community supported Trump against Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, respectively.

Greek-American leaders, including politicians, scientists, academics, and artists, as well as powerful financiers, are highly sought after by both candidates. These individuals are seen as influencers and, in many cases, as potential donors. Although the Greek-American community represents only 0.6% of the electorate, the political influence of certain individuals is significantly higher.

Their impact extends beyond just the Greek vote, influencing American society at large, with many holding prominent positions on lists of the most influential people in the US. Examples of such figures include the late businessmen Alex Spanos and Peter George Peterson, long-time supporters of the Republicans, who were among the top ten most influential figures in American public opinion. Peterson even served as Secretary of Commerce under President Richard Nixon. For Greece, the critical question is whether these figures are willing and able to offer valuable support on national issues.

The Banker

The campaign teams of both presidential candidates are fiercely competing for the favor of two prominent Greek-American figures. The first is the top and highest-paid banker on Wall Street, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase. Dimon is one of the most significant figures in the American economic and business scene, having played a crucial role in preventing the collapse of the banking system during the 2008 crisis.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has shifted from being an opponent to an ally of Trump and vice versa!

Since then, his positions have been a barometer for American developments. It is no coincidence that his name has been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate. Dimon has been a vocal critic of Trump’s policies, particularly his protectionist policies towards China and Europe, as well as his handling of the debt issue and his conflict with the Biden administration. Additionally, Dimon has called for higher taxes on the wealthy to alleviate the burden on lower-income groups. His annual letter to JP Morgan shareholders last year was seen as a political manifesto, putting him at odds with Trump’s core policies.

The conflict reached a peak when Dimon urged Republicans last November to support Trump’s rival, Nikki Haley. Trump responded with dismissive remarks, saying, “I was never a big fan of his, but I had to deal with him when he came begging (!) at the White House.”

Reconciliation

However, the situation has changed somewhat since then. Reports suggest a secret meeting between the two men that resolved their differences. In January, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Dimon praised aspects of Trump’s policies on NATO, immigration, the economy, and China.

Recently, after an attempted assassination against Trump, Dimon was the first head of a major American company to express his strong support for the former president in an email to JP Morgan employees. This was followed by Trump’s bombshell comment in an interview with Bloomberg Businessweek: “I have great respect (!) for Jamie Dimon. He is someone I would definitely consider,” in response to a question about whether Dimon could be his next Treasury Secretary.

Dimon left Trump’s remark unaddressed, but it sent shockwaves through the Democratic Party. Harris’s campaign team is striving to maintain Dimon’s neutrality in the election and does not want to give the impression that Trump has gained Dimon’s trust, potentially sending a signal to the business community to vote for Trump. Their ultimate goal is to bring Dimon back to his traditional values, which would signal renewed alignment with Democratic policies.

It seems they have had some success. In an opinion piece in the Washington Post in early August, Dimon stated that “the country needs a president like Lincoln, Truman, or Eisenhower, who led the nation forward in difficult times by addressing national interests without veering to extremes.” He added that “the new president must develop policies that create equal opportunities, grow the economy, address national debt, maintain a strong military, control the borders, and renew national pride while pursuing a smart, no-nonsense foreign policy.”

This marked a partial return to his traditional political stance. The shift became more apparent when, in his proposal to tackle the US’s massive $35 trillion debt, he reiterated his call for higher taxes on the wealthy, something Trump would never consider. However, the battle for Dimon’s support continues.

The 3rd Richest

Another key figure is Trump’s personal friend and the third richest Greek-American, John Catsimatidis. With roots in Kalymnos, he is the owner of Red Apple, a company dominating the supermarket market on the East Coast, a leading skyscraper developer, and an energy sector entrepreneur involved in modular nuclear reactors. He also owns a radio station in New York, where Trump has been a guest, and the two men often meet in private clubs to exchange views or play golf.

John Catsimatidis aligns with the Republicans, and Kamala Harris’s team considers it a victory if they can persuade him to remain neutral.

Catsimatidis ran for New York City Mayor in the 2013 Republican primary but lost the nomination to former Deputy Mayor Joe Lhota. His daughter, Andrea, has been the chair of the New York Republican Party since 2017 (and a former spouse of Richard Nixon’s grandson, Christopher), and she is also a personal friend of Melania Trump.

Catsimatidis’s influence in the Greek-American community is significant, as he is a leader in community events, supports church activities, is an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, engages in extensive philanthropy, and frequently visits Greece, maintaining strong ties with politicians and businesspeople. Harris’s campaign team wants to pull him away from Trump’s influence, as they consider him the most influential Greek-American on the East Coast after Dimon. Although Catsimatidis maintained a somewhat neutral stance before 2012, even leaning toward the Democrats, such a shift now seems almost impossible due to his close relationship with Trump. Nonetheless, the Democrats have exerted all kinds of pressure to build bridges with him.

Backing Trump

In 72 nights from now, when the entire planet will stay up late watching the US presidential election results, some of the top Greek-American businessmen will have even more reasons to anticipate the outcome, as they have placed their bets exclusively on one of the two candidates, Kamala Harris or Donald Trump. These so-called “wings” of the two candidates are not few.

Dean Spanos

A strong supporter of Trump is Dean Spanos, the son and successor of Alex Spanos in the eponymous empire. The family has a traditional relationship with the Republicans and a personal relationship with the Bushes. Although George W. Bush has severed ties with the Trump camp, the Spanos family, with a $2.4 billion legacy, has continued to support Trump since 2016. In addition to real estate on the West Coast, Spanos is also the owner of the NFL team, the Los Angeles Chargers. Another Republican supporter is Ted Leonsis, a prominent figure in the sports and entertainment industry, based in Washington, and the founder, president, and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Washington Wizards of the NBA.

George Argyros, with a strong presence in real estate, is closely connected to the Republicans. He previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Spain and Andorra and was the owner of the Seattle Mariners baseball team, which he sold in 1989. Another supporter of Trump is John Calamos, known for his earlier interest in National Insurance, and a major shareholder in the eponymous investment fund with a net worth of $1 billion. The company he founded in 1977, based in Chicago, has offices in New York, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Miami.

Ted Leonsis, Chairman and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment

A significant “transfer” from the Democrats is Andrew Liveris, former president and CEO of Dow Chemical Company, who has supported Trump since he asked him to take over the presidency of the American Industrial Council. Also, there are the successors of Michael Zaharis’ pharmaceutical empire. Michael Psaros, of Chian descent, is a co-managing partner of KPS Capital Partners, one of the world’s leading private equity firms, with assets under management exceeding $21 billion.

Archbishop Elpidophoros of America is considered a supporter of the Republicans, although he attended and prayed at the conventions of both parties. However, unlike his predecessors, Mr. Elpidophoros did not meet with either Trump or Harris, limiting his activities to events within the Greek-American community.

George Argyros, real estate entrepreneur

Michael Psaros, KPS Capital Partners

Supporting Trump is also Christos Karafatsos, a key representative of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump and founder of the Greek Voices for Trump group, established during the 2016 elections.

Archbishop Elpidophoros

Another close associate is Philip Nicozisis, head of the real estate development company Nico Properties Group LLC. A regular sponsor, he is part of the elite circle of members at the renowned Mar-a-Lago golf resort owned by the former president, which during his presidency had become the most exclusive and sought-after club in the world.

Congress Members:

Among Congress members, prominent is the Greek-American Republican Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, who was brought to the forefront by Trump. In an official statement, citing the position of the Republican Party Committee in Staten Island, she endorsed Trump even before Nikki Haley withdrew from the internal race following his overwhelming victory on what is known as Super Tuesday. A Greek from her father’s side and Cuban from her mother’s, the 44-year-old Malliotakis, with studies in Communication and Public Relations at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, was also a candidate for mayor of New York in 2017, but lost to Democrat Bill de Blasio.

Malliotakis will seek re-election in the 11th District, which includes Staten Island and southern Brooklyn. The district’s composition remained unchanged despite the Democratic Party majority in the State Senate having the power to make it more “progressive” by redrawing the neighborhood boundaries. Thus, the Greek-American Congresswoman is running in an electoral body that was particularly friendly to Trump in both 2016 and 2020, compared to the rest of New York City. Also notable is 61-year-old Gus Bilirakis, a Congressman from Florida since 2007, where he succeeded his father, Michael. With family roots in Kalymnos and studies in Political Science at the University of Florida and Law at Stetson University, also in Florida, he is an active lawyer in the Tampa area, where there is a significant Greek-American presence.

A peculiar atmosphere prevails in Trump’s campaign regarding the Greek-American element. Among the officials who supported him during his presidency, only Michael Kratsios, then head of the U.S. Technology Office, remains successful and active on his side. Reince Priebus remained White House Chief of Staff for just six months, George Gigicos, former Deputy Assistant to Trump, was fired by him, while Foreign Policy Advisor George Papadopoulos was accused of providing false information to the FBI about his contacts with Vladimir Putin, agreed to cooperate with federal investigators, and was eventually convicted, but Trump granted him a full pardon shortly before his presidency ended.

Kamala Harris’ Supporters:

In the Harris camp, Greek-American supporters may be fewer in number, but some play a significant role in American public affairs, with the most prominent being Eleni Kounalakis-Tsakopoulos, Lieutenant Governor of California, who exerts significant influence on the Democratic presidential candidate. Their acquaintance dates back to the mid-’90s and remains close. Since then, they frequently exchange family visits, but more often communicate by phone about political and economic matters, a situation that did not change even when Harris moved to the White House; on the contrary, Kounalakis’ visits to Washington became more frequent.

The second daughter of the 88-year-old Angelo Tsakopoulos, an iconic figure in the Greek-American community and a real estate magnate who has made numerous donations to Democratic candidates’ campaigns, she is a successful businesswoman with a diplomatic career as an ambassador to Budapest.

She has been elected twice as Lieutenant Governor in California, with her immediate goal being to become the first female governor of the state in 2026. A position of incredible power, as the economy, with an annual GDP of $3.5 trillion, ranks 5th globally.

George Tsunis

Notable is also the presence of the outgoing ambassador to Athens, and successful entrepreneur primarily in the hotel industry on the U.S. Northeast Coast, George Tsunis. A “child” of Biden, who appointed him ambassador to Athens in 2021, he has developed a very close personal relationship with the outgoing president for 25 years. With roots in Nafpaktia, he has close relationships with many top Democratic officials in Long Island and New York, senators and congressmen, and has been a donor to Democratic campaigns since 2008. He is well-acquainted with Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. His return to the U.S. within the next six months will strengthen Greek positions in the Democratic leadership, with the possibility of him being utilized in a government position.

Among other Greek-American figures supporting Harris is George Logothetis, head of the Libra Group, a traditional supporter of the Democrats. With high political connections, during Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, his appointment as a minister was considered highly likely.

Also significant is the presence of West Coast real estate magnate George Marcus, with a fortune of $1.7 billion and based in San Francisco. He is personally connected to Harris, was one of the largest donors to Biden’s campaign, offering $1 million, and is already contributing to the vice president. Another prominent figure is Peter Barris, a long-time donor to Democratic candidates.

Peter Barris, investor at New Enterprise Associates, Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate

A successful investor under the umbrella of New Enterprise Associates and an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Also, lawyer John Angelos, heir to the $2.2 billion empire of his late father Peter, a staunch supporter of the Democrats for decades in Baltimore, and at one point a contender for the mayoralty. Similarly, Dennis Mehiel, a consistent donor to Democratic candidates since the John Kerry era, who lost to Bush in 2004, with total contributions reaching $2 million. He owns a large paper packaging company in New York.

Greek-American former San Francisco mayor Art Agnos, a long-time acquaintance of Harris, also wields considerable influence, as does the Greek-American secretary of Leadership 100, Maria Olwyn, at whose luxurious seaside villa the Bidens often vacation. The wealthy widow of New York hedge fund magnate James Olwyn is also a long-time donor to the Democratic Party and its candidates. Additionally, the Washington lobbyists Eddie and Mike Manatos of Manatos & Manatos, as well as the top actress with Greek roots, Jennifer Aniston, are also notable.

John Angelos, distinguished lawyer

Furthermore, among the Greek-American members of Congress, John Sarbanes, a 62-year-old lawyer and Maryland Congressman since 2007, stands out. He is the son of Paul Sarbanes, a strong supporter of national issues, who has often visited Greece since childhood.

The 44-year-old Chris Pappas is the rising star of the Democrats, a Congressman from New Hampshire. A Harvard graduate, he is also a staunch supporter of Greek interests in Congress, as is the 74-year-old Dina Titus, a Political Science professor and Nevada Congresswoman.

John Sarbanes, Congressman from Maryland since 2007

The Neutrals:

In a position of strict neutrality from the election race are brothers Tom and Alex Gores (the former is a major investor and owner of the Detroit Pistons) with activities in technology, entertainment, and more. Also, Jim Davis, owner of the sports footwear and apparel company New Balance, with $4.4 billion in revenue in 2022, a global workforce of 8,000 people, and manufacturing units in the U.S., the U.K., and Europe. The same goes for the Hasiotis family, which owns a vast grocery chain.

The “neutralization” of former ardent supporter of Clinton, Obama, and Biden, John-Paul DeJoria, a top entrepreneur in the hair care and spirits industry, as well as Dean Metropoulos, who, as head of Metropoulos & Co., has focused for four decades on acquisitions and restructuring businesses in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe, is considered a loss for the Democrats.

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