To Mr. Schwarzman, the notion appeared absurd. “This has been a troublesome time,” he mentioned, in keeping with a participant who shared particula
To Mr. Schwarzman, the notion appeared absurd. “This has been a troublesome time,” he mentioned, in keeping with a participant who shared particulars from a transcript of the decision. Each the media protection and the polls had misled folks, Mr. Schwarzman mentioned, and consequently, “folks typically are skeptical about what anybody’s telling them.” He argued that the vote counts, which have been persevering with days after the election, had created a notion drawback, particularly in locations the place Mr. Trump appeared to have an early win just for a Biden victory to be declared later. His feedback didn’t sit effectively with some attendees.
“It was 100 p.c recognized upfront that this was precisely what would occur in a spot like Pennsylvania,” replied Richard H. Pildes, a constitutional-law skilled, in keeping with the participant who had the transcript. Kenneth Frazier, the chief government of Merck, added that Mr. Trump’s actions have been undermining democracy and ought to be of nice concern, recalled attendees.
After Mr. Schwarzman’s feedback have been leaked to The Monetary Occasions, some Blackstone buyers started elevating questions, say workers briefed on the calls. Workers members of pension funds, which make investments with Blackstone, had beforehand informed the agency’s officers they wished Mr. Schwarzman would steer clear of politics. Now, one pension needed to know extra about what he had mentioned to the opposite executives and why, and one other complained that they didn’t like what they have been studying, two Blackstone workers mentioned.
Whilst he discovered himself ensnared in controversy, Mr. Schwarzman declined to criticize the president. It took him till Nov. 16 — greater than every week after the election was referred to as by networks — to acknowledge the win at an financial discussion board. (“It seems like Joe Biden,” he mentioned.)
As Mr. Trump refused to concede, Mr. Schwarzman declined to signal a Nov. 23 letter wherein greater than 160 chief executives demanded a transition of energy. As a substitute, he issued his personal assertion that “the nation ought to transfer on,” including that “I supported President Trump and the robust financial path he constructed.” (Jon Grey, Blackstone’s president and a giant supporter of Mr. Biden, signed the group letter.)
Mr. Schwarzman additionally seems prepared to maneuver on. After the storming of the Capitol, he informed colleagues he thought the president ought to be eliminated. And he’s now “prepared,” he has mentioned in current ready statements, to assist Mr. Biden and his workforce.