Charles Koch isn't planning on supporting any Republican candidate in the primary


He has a lot of people to choose from, but Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch says he has "no plans" to support any of the Republican presidential candidates in the primary.
The billionaire industrialist and supporter of conservative politics told USA Today on Wednesday that he's looking for somebody who is "going to make a difference." Right now, "it's not only what they say," he said. "If they start saying things we think are beneficial overall and will change the trajectory of the country, then that would be good, but we have to believe also they'll follow through on it, and by and large, candidates don't do that." He did say it's likely he will support the eventual Republican nominee in the general election.
Koch and his brother, David Koch, are known for making significant donations to conservative campaigns and organizations, but Koch said he's not one for politics. "[David] is more interested in the political side," he said. What Koch does take an interest in is free speech on college campuses. "Universities are supposed to be a marketplace of ideas and encourage different thinking, not, 'Oh, we don't want any student to be uncomfortable,'" he said. "Well, you want all the students to be uncomfortable because they are exposed to new and different ideas that challenge the way they are thinking to help them develop thinking skills."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
IRS filings show that two charitable foundations bankrolled by Koch have given $19.3 million to 210 college campuses and organizations to fund economic research, offer scholarships, and underwrite courses that support libertarian economic policies, USA Today reports. "If we support three or four professors out of hundreds who have an alternate point of view, they are trying to get that kicked off the campus," he said. "You want no debate on ideas? We're not saying, 'Oh, you need to get rid of everybody.' Bring 'em on. Let's have a free and open debate. That's what a free society is all about."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Taking aim at Venezuela’s autocrat
Feature The Trump administration is ramping up military pressure on Nicolás Maduro. Is he a threat to the U.S.?
-
Comey indictment: Is the justice system broken?
Feature U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan has indicted former FBI Director James Comey on charges of lying and obstructing Congress
-
Government shuts down amid partisan deadlock
Feature As Democrats and Republicans clash over health care and spending, the shutdown leaves 750,000 federal workers in limbo
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot