Silicon Valley has traditionally been a reliable goldmine for the Democratic Party and the progressive movement. But it's shifting to the right. The first cracks appeared a few years ago with the Elon Musk incident, but the shift has accelerated in recent months, with many of its influential figures throwing their power and wealth at Donald Trump. Silicon Valley is no longer as content to be a Democrat lapdog as it once was.
Wealthy venture capitalists from hedge fund manager Bill Ackman to Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, the Winklevoss twins, David Sachs, Joe Lonsdale, Doug Leone and many others are now breaking reservations and publicly declaring their support for Trump and their opposition to Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party's policies for the US.
Silicon Valley giants want less regulation and a place for AI and exploratory technologies to thrive. Whether that's entirely a good or bad thing for the right in the future is up for debate, but the point is that tech's tilt toward Trump isn't just a matter of emotion, it's a matter of business.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also returned with a new sun-kissed look and less woke views. Zuckerberg is not endorsing anyone in this election, but Recently hospitalized Trump's defiant, fist-pumping response to being nearly assassinated in Pennsylvania was “one of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life.”
Is it just a coincidence that Meta recently removed its “misinformation tracker,” or is it because Zuckerberg is growing tired of the woke farce?
Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are enthusiastic supporters of cryptocurrency and have donated $1 million each to Trump (though The donation was later refunded They are also funding a Massachusetts campaign trying to unseat Sen. Warren (Democrat). They also want to remove Warren's “dog” Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler from his position. At a Bitcoin conference in Nashville in late July, Trump promised to do just that if re-elected. He also voiced his strong support for cryptocurrencies in 2021, having previously said they were like a “scam.”
Kamala Harris Increased support in Silicon Valley While he is strengthening existing ties, his growing support for Trump is clear to everyone: Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, previously worked for Peter Thiel, who founded Mithril Capital, and is reportedly investing in Thiel-backed AI defense technology. Anduril IndustriesHe has also invested heavily in tech stocks and cryptocurrencies, and has a strong interest in tech startups. Silicon Valley stalwarts like Delian Asparoukhov celebrated his selection as Trump's running mate, praising the choice to put a “former tech VC in the White House.”
Vance's selection has certainly energized a growing body of support in Silicon Valley and is part of the Ohio senator's broader tech advocacy efforts, including among donors. Rockbridge Network, which he co-founded I will be working with Chris Buskirk to help fund election victories for conservatives across the country.
Rockbridge, which has a budget of about $75 million for 2024, helps conservatives win elections through its PAC and a number of political groups, including funding get-out-the-vote efforts focused on battleground states and investigative journalists. Investors include left-turned-conservative Omeed Malik, who Reuters reported also backs Thiel and Rebecca Mercer.
Silicon Valley is a place of innovation and a business-friendly ethos that doesn't necessarily mesh well with Democratic ideology, even though many of its widely shared views are decidedly left-leaning. Tech companies want lower taxes and a thriving industry, but the sector is largely populated by socially liberal people who feel ashamed and socially ostracized for having any conservative or right-wing blood in them.
Saxophone Tweeted Commenting on his distaste for Silicon Valley's culture of censorship, he said, “Tech industry publication The Information casually mentioned that Trump supporters were subject to firing in Silicon Valley because liberals are so tolerant.”
Sachs is himself a recipient of liberal tolerance and a vocal opponent of the left's word and belief policing. Take a tough stance against venture capitalists backing KamalaThey say they are “gaslighting” others to sell such a terrible candidate to the tech industry. A growing number of Silicon Valley and tech leaders are tired of pretending to be left-leaning just to be accepted by their peers.
Meanwhile, Lonsdale recently expressed an opinion about Regarding Ms Harris' possible presidency, he agreed with a friend who said the DNC was full of “terrible people and policies” and called her a “dangerous extremist.” He urged Americans to “look at the UK and the EU and what's going on there,” adding that “the right direction is clear.”
For people like Horowitz, the situation has become deeply personal. Recently accused Michael Moritz, a senior adviser to the left-leaning Sequoia Capital, is accused of using the new publication to try to destroy Horowitz by smearing the character of his wife.
“Michael Moritz is now having a disinformation 'newspaper' fabricate stories to attack me, his business rival, and now he has chosen to attack my wife, Felicia.”
Moritz said Silicon Valley people who support Trump “Misled” He has been praised by CNN and other media for resisting the pro-Trump tech fad. Moritz argues that there is no real Trump groundswell in Silicon Valley, and that the “few” tech people who support Trump are inconsequential fools who espouse “authoritarianism.” He argues that the few Silicon Valley defectors who get public and media attention are doing so because of their ability to gain and spread attention on platforms like X.
“I think they were able to amplify their voices and their emotions well beyond the strongly anti-Trump reality of Silicon Valley, as they have in the past two elections,” Moritz said. Recent InterviewsHe added that in 2016 and 2020, Trump “barely got 20% of the vote in Silicon Valley, and it's likely to be the same this time.”
Moritz's dismissive attitude is one reason influential tech titans have decided to back Trump: They're tired of groupthink and being left with only one option for steering the country.
But the Trump slant isn't just because tech people enjoy outrageous jokes or are tired of the policing of liberal language. It's also about profits: Silicon Valley's decidedly Randian leanings are weary of many of the Democratic proposals, such as a wealth tax, that would hurt profits.
Silicon Valley giants want less regulation and a place for AI and exploratory technologies to thrive. Whether that's entirely a good or bad thing for the right in the future is up for debate, but the point is that tech's tilt toward Trump isn't just a matter of emotion, it's a matter of business.
Whether or not Moritz thinks it will make a difference, Peter Thiel and (future Trump Cabinet member?) Elon Musk are on the crest of a very large pro-Trump Silicon Valley wave.
