Airbnb Co-Founder Joe Gebbia Reflects on Leaving the Democratic Party

Joe Gebbia, the billionaire entrepreneur and co-founder of Airbnb, has shared insights regarding his departure from the Democratic Party. He voiced his concerns about border security, which ultimately led him to support President Donald Trump.

In a recent podcast discussion with Katy Miller, the 44-year-old entrepreneur recounted his efforts to engage with friends from the Democratic side about border issues. However, he was left feeling unsatisfied with their responses.

Gebbia remarked, “This is not true. …This is a real problem, and there is no reason we should not enforce the laws of our country.”

He remembered being captivated by the border situation in mid-2021, thinking, “What’s happening here? It feels like there’s no actual border.” As he dug deeper, he found himself reaching out to various acquaintances within the party but felt his inquiries had gone unanswered.

Eventually, it was Jared Kushner—Trump’s son-in-law and former advisor—who provided clarity to Gebbia’s questions regarding border enforcement. “I called Jared and said, ‘Can you help me understand? What am I missing? Is this normal? This doesn’t seem like it’s in line with our laws,'” Gebbia expressed. He described being directed to experts in the field and was taken aback by the complexities he discovered.

Gebbia emphasized, “This is a real issue, and we need to uphold our laws concerning borders.” As he examined related topics, he realized he couldn’t align himself with a political party pushing for open borders, which he felt could invite danger into the country.

His candid remarks in the podcast have since gained traction online, amassing over 9 million views on social media.

In 2022, Gebbia announced his decision to step away from his active role at Airbnb. He clarified, “My views are my own and don’t necessarily represent the company.” Yet, this did not shield him from backlash, particularly from those on the left.

One critic, New York City Council member Tiffany Caban, described Gebbia’s statements as spreading anti-immigrant sentiments and linked them to more extensive societal issues.