**Warren Buffett Declines to Publicly Endorse Presidential Candidates**

Warren Buffett, the influential CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has made it clear that he will not be endorsing either Kamala Harris or Donald Trump in the current presidential race. A statement on Berkshire Hathaway's website this week clarified his stance, debunking any fraudulent claims about his political endorsements circulating on social media. The statement emphasized that Buffett does not and will not endorse investment products or political candidates.

Historically, Buffett has been an active supporter of Democratic presidential candidates. He previously organized fundraisers for Barack Obama in 2011 and campaigned for Hillary Clinton in 2016. During Clinton's campaign, he even took the stage to criticize Donald Trump over his business bankruptcies, refusal to release tax returns, and uncivil behavior. However, the 94-year-old billionaire has since chosen to remain neutral.

Buffett explained his current approach during Berkshire's 2022 annual shareholder meeting. He acknowledged that expressing opinions on contentious issues could lead to backlash, potentially harming Berkshire’s businesses, employees, and shareholders. Buffett stated, "You can make a whole lot more people sustainably mad than you can make temporarily happy by speaking out on any subject." His priority is to protect Berkshire Hathaway and its stakeholders from the repercussions of any political stance he might take.

This cautious stance also explains why Buffett did not publicly support Joe Biden in the past election, despite reports that Biden had spoken with him in October 2020. The billionaire investor is concerned that any public endorsement could lead to boycotts or protests against Berkshire's subsidiaries, potentially leading to job losses and financial repercussions for the company.

Buffett’s decision is rooted in his belief that his employees and shareholders should not suffer due to his political views. "I've decidedly backed off - I don't want to say anything that'll get attributed, basically, to Berkshire, and have somebody else bear the consequences of what I talk about," he stated. His focus remains on running his $1 trillion company and safeguarding the interests of approximately 400,000 employees and countless investors.

It’s possible that Buffett has had private discussions with Harris or other political figures behind the scenes, but publicly, he is abstaining from taking a political stance. As a renowned celebrity investor and philanthropist, his endorsement could be influential; however, Buffett is prioritizing the well-being of Berkshire Hathaway over his personal political beliefs.