JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon gave an impassioned defense of the Iran war, dismissed the idea of running for office and pointed at plans for his post-CEO future in an interview with Jim VandeHei for a new episode of "The Axios Show."
Why it matters: Dimon, who once served as chairman of the Business Roundtable, has outsized influence in the American business landscape.
The big picture: Dimon was reluctant to criticize President Trump across a number of issues.
- On the Iran war, Dimon dismissed the criticism that there was no imminent threat facing the U.S.: "They've been killing people around the world for 45-plus years. They've killed a lot of Americans. They've funded Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis ... they have terrorist cells here."
- Asked for his single biggest disappointment about Trump, Dimon said: "I don't want to say here."
- He did indicate he's considered some Trump moves heavy-handed: "I just think sometimes he raises some wonderful issues — things that universities should have been doing a better job at. But I'm not in favor of taking away all their R&D."
Epstein
Dimon pinned blame for the years of inaction against Jeffrey Epstein on the federal government.
- "Why didn't the government do something about it all those years? He was abusing these young women. They knew," Dimon said.
Zoom out: JPMorgan has been scrutinized for having Epstein as a client until 2013. The company settled with victims for $290 million in a 2023 case that accused the company of facilitating Epstein's long-running abuse.
Running for office
Often floated as a potential presidential candidate, Dimon shot down the idea that he would run.
- He called the idea of running for president "quixotic," and suggested he prefers his place atop JPMorgan.
- "Plus we're so tough on our politicians. We just annihilate them and I just think it's wrong."
What comes next
When he relinquishes the CEO title, Dimon said "the current plan would be that I stay as executive chairman for a while." He also went into detail on why he's interested in starting a media company, which could focus on policy.
- "Media teaches everybody. Media's the great influencer. We all wake up in the morning. We read media. I read an awful lot."
Policymakers and their staff are often consuming media before making influential decisions, he said.
- "If you think of senators, congressmen, administrative officials, regulators, governors, mayors and all of their staff ... we have to do a good job at that. And in some ways we haven't."
