Most CEOs 'Totally Disgusted' By Trump

Former Bush Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, a Republican who is endorsing Hillary Clinton, told CNN that most CEOs are disgusted by Donald Trump.

Gutierrez, a lifelong Republican, began the interview discussing his recent endorsement of Clinton, telling CNN’s State of the Union anchor Jake Tapper that Donald Trump had pushed him too far.

He told Tapper that he “made the switch away from Trump” the week he launched an attack on Judge Gonzalo Curiel and singled out a black man at a campaign rally in California calling him “my African-American.”

“That, for me, did it. I mean, I — that’s it. I don’t want to go back to a country where, if a child has a Spanish last name, that the president, the leader of the country, is giving kids a license to bully them,” he told Tapper.

Gutierrez also complained of Trump’s audacity “to make fun of a handicapped reporter and saying that “POWs aren’t really heroes.”

He went on to explain that he “had to look at the totality of the picture, explaining that: “I have one resume here for Donald Trump. I have one resume here for Hillary Clinton. And I have chosen this resume. I think this person, Hillary Clinton, is the best for the country.”

“I am not thinking about a Republican. I am thinking about a U.S. citizen. I think, at some point, you have to put the party aside and say, what’s best for the country? I don’t want to live in a society that I think Donald Trump will create.”

Continuing the interview, Gutierrez explained: “I actually think that Hillary Clinton has the experience. She has been around. She knows how the system works. I think she would make a darned good president. I would have preferred Jeb Bush. […] But I think Hillary is a great choice. I am afraid of what Donald Trump would do to this country.”

Asked what he was afraid of, Gutierrez replied: “Look, first, first of all, I mean, the economy is important to me. His plan — I like — I love the tax cuts. I am a Republican. But then he has this sort of import substitution strategy, which is a strategy like an underdeveloped country. Very poor countries think that way: We have to substitute our imports. That would be a disaster, especially if you cut taxes.”

Asked whether he thought Clinton would be better for the economy, Gutierrez responded: “I think so.”

“I think that one thing the Clintons learned during President Clinton’s time in office is budget deficits hinder growth. And that’s what President Clinton did in the second term, is cut the deficit. And that drove the growth. She has learned from that. I’m sure she knows that.”

Speaking directly to Clinton’s economic plan, Gutierrez stated that: “Secretary Clinton talked a lot about — in her economic speech, a lot about new business formation. That’s — that’s the core of our growth, new businesses. Microsoft was once a new business. And it became a large business. Most new jobs come from new businesses.”

On the flip-side, he discussed the disastrous nature of Trump’s economic plan, telling Tapper: “I haven’t heard an economic concept come out of Trump’s mouth, except for protectionism and lower taxes. You put those two together, that is a recipe for disaster.”

Tapper went on to ask Gutierrez what he was hearing from other people in the global economic elite who were “proud supporters of Mitt Romney, proud supporters of George W. Bush, proud supporters of John McCain.”

“Where are your fellow CEO types in this election?”

GUTIERREZ: Most of them are totally disgusted.

TAPPER: By?

GUTIERREZ: By the Trump nomination. They don’t know what to do. So, as you said, you know, there is this relationship with the Clintons, the Republicans and Clintons, and it hasn’t been great. And so they’re reluctant to support Secretary Clinton. But they’re not going to vote for Donald Trump. And I think that will be a big problem for the Trump campaign. But, Jake, this is a time to think about the country, and even think about the party.

If Trump wins, I think it’s a tactical victory for him and a strategic loss for the GOP. And this is the time to stand up and be — and show some leadership.

Gutierrez concluded the interview, stating that: “I don’t agree 100 percent with anyone. But I believe Hillary Clinton will make a good president. And I’m going to support Hillary Clinton. And I’m going to do everything possible to make sure that the GOP doesn’t get destroyed.”

You can watch Gutierrez speaking about CEOs in the clip, below, followed by the full interview.