Billionaire Ken Langone knocks Trump’s actions surrounding riot: ‘I feel betrayed’

Billionaire Home Depot co-founder Ken Langone said Wednesday that he felt “betrayed” by President Trump’s conduct before and after last week’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.

“I think the biggest mistake anybody is going to make is try and rationalize what happened last week, what the president did and what that crowd did,” Langone said Wednesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” hours before the House was scheduled to impeach Trump for a second time. “There should be no mitigation at all. It was horrible. It was wrong. I’m shocked.”

“It should never have happened in this country,” he continued. “If it doesn’t break every American’s heart, something is wrong. It breaks my heart, for sure. I didn’t sign up for that.”

Langone went on to urge Americans to unify ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, saying he would “do everything I can from Day 1 to make sure I do my part to make Joe Biden the most successful president in the history of this country.”

Langone made similar comments in 2017 after Trump insisted the attendees of the white supremacist “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Va., included “very fine people.” The billionaire said Trump “completely mishandled the situation in Charlottesville,” although he continued to back the president’s economic policies.

The president’s handling of the riot and his repeated promotion of unproven conspiracy theories about voter fraud have led to numerous high-profile defections in the waning days of his presidency. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos both resigned last week, citing his rhetoric leading up to the riots.

Soon after, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) became the first GOP senators to call for his resignation. At least four House Republicans, including House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), are set to vote for his impeachment.