Influential Republican super-donor Charles Koch has expressed his dismay at GOP frontrunner Donald Trump’s plan to stop Muslims from entering America. In an interview with ABC News, Mr. Koch was asked for his views on Trump’s proposal. He referred to the plan as, “reminiscent of Nazi Germany.” He went on to say:
“Well, obviously that’s antithetical to our approach, but what was worse was this, we’ll have them all register. That’s reminiscent of Nazi Germany. I mean that’s monstrous as I said at the time.”
Mr. Koch also did not have kind words for Trump’s rival, Ted Cruz. In the interview, he was asked about Cruz’s vow to carpet bomb parts of the Middle East under ISIS control. He was equally scathing, calling the vow “hyperbole” and “frightening,” also saying:
“Well, that’s gotta be hyperbole, but I mean that a candidate, whether they believe it or not, would think that appeals to the American people. This is frightening.”
The Koch brothers have been influential in the Republican party for decades, spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help Republicans at all levels get elected. This campaign, however, has drawn less enthusiasm from them. Koch explained why they probably won’t back the eventual GOP nominee by saying:
“Well, I’ll tell you why. We said here are the issues. You’ve got to be like Ronald Reagan and compete on making the country better rather than tearing down your opponents. And right off the bat, they didn’t do it. More of these personal attacks and pitting one person against the other, that’s the message you’re sending the country.”
Koch even went as far as offering a tongue-in-cheek endorsement for Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, saying that the Democratic candidates could be better presidential material than the GOP candidates. Hillary Clinton however rejected this “endorsement” on Twitter:
Not interested in endorsements from people who deny climate science and try to make it harder for people to vote. https://t.co/TWN4zYhMBh
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 24, 2016
Regarding the reference by Charles Koch to Nazi Germany, he would know better than most because of their family history. In January, it was reported that the father of the Koch brothers, Fred Koch, played a hand in the construction of a major oil refinery in Nazi Germany.
This refinery was personally approved by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. The extent of his role was however later disputed.
One thing is not in dispute though—Koch’s scathing views on GOP candidates are spot on.
Featured image via Video.
