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The Ohio billionaire and longtime Republican donor, The Wexner, says he has officially ended with the party and he was prompted to leave after former President Barack Obama's visit to the state.
Wexner, CEO of distribution conglomerate L Brands, owner of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, said Thursday at a Columbus summit that it would "no longer support this nonsense in the Republican Party."
The roundtable announcement took place the same day that Obama visited Columbus before heading to a rally in Cleveland to support the candidacy of Democratic governor Richard Cordray.
"I was struck by the authenticity of the man; his openness, his humility and his empathy for others, "said Wexner about Obama.
Wexner said he told lawmakers he was now independent.
"I just decided I'm no longer Republican," he said.
Last year, following a rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, Wexner sentenced racists in a speech to his employees. He said that Trump's lukewarm response to the violence – in which a white smuggler killed counter-protester Heather Heyer – has made him feel "dirty" and "ashamed," the Dispatch reported.
In a speech in Illinois earlier this month, Obama also denounced Trump's mixed response to violence, in which the current president said there were "very good people" on both sides.
"Is it hard to say that the Nazis are bad?" Obama said.
Mr. Wexner has long donated to Republican causes, including a $ 500,000 check to Jeb Bush in 2015 during Bush's presidential race. The billionaire philanthropist also donated $ 2.8 million to With Honor, a super PAC that supports Republican and Democratic candidates.
At the round table on Thursday, former Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman congratulated Wexner for defending his former party, the Dispatch reports.
"If you do not think things are going well, open your mouth," said Wexner.
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