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."
Subscribe to 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.
-
Trump judge pick told DOJ to defy courts, lawyer says
Speed Read Emil Bove, a top Justice Department official nominated by Trump for a lifetime seat, stands accused of encouraging government lawyers to mislead the courts and defy judicial orders
-
Mamdani upsets Cuomo in NYC mayoral primary
Speed Read Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani beat out Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday