July 19th, 2024

Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

In Silicon Valley, influential tech figures like Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen openly support Trump for his innovation stance. Divides in political donations and ideological shifts reflect broader rifts. Commercial interests and tech trends shape preferences.

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Has Silicon Valley Gone Maga?

In Silicon Valley, a notable shift has been observed as some influential tech figures are now openly supporting Donald Trump's bid for the White House in November. Prominent technologists like Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, and Ben Horowitz have endorsed Trump, citing reasons such as a perceived openness to innovation and rebuilding America. However, this shift is not universal, with the majority of internet company donations still going to Democrats. The divide reflects broader political rifts in the country, with disagreements among colleagues and friends on the implications of a second Trump term. The reasons behind the shift include commercial interests, such as tax policies and regulatory concerns, as well as ideological shifts within Silicon Valley's culture. Additionally, the tech industry's focus on artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency regulation plays a role in shaping their political preferences. The evolving landscape in Silicon Valley underscores the complex interplay between politics, business interests, and ideological beliefs in one of the world's leading tech hubs.

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Link Icon 6 comments
By @contrarian9923 - 4 months
There's very little evidence in my view that Republicans intend to be friendlier to big tech than Democrats. Democrats take vastly more big tech donations still, and its still a significantly smaller percentage of their politicians that are culturally or ethically opposed to a "free and open" internet than in the Republican party, which has a significant contingent of traditionalists that (sometimes understandably) view the unrestrained spread of the internet and related technologies as inherently evil (the Democrats mostly stop at saying its partially evil and just needs more competition or some form of very light regulation). There's a significant social conservative / anti big-tech overlap.

Its also the case that the Republican party is trending overwhelmingly in an anti big-tech direction recently, whereas the Democrats mostly seem to be treading water at about the same overall position.

By @acl777 - 4 months
By @tayo42 - 4 months
The article is really about how a few people got rich in silicon valley stand to get richer with a republican government.

Someone calling Biden the worst president in his life?

Such a disconnect from reality

By @tbatchelli - 4 months
What does "Silicon Valley" mean here? A few people who struck gold and became billionaires and they loathe the system that got them where they are? Or the general population that work in tech companies in the Bay Area?
By @taylodl - 4 months
I don't understand this myopic thinking. Maybe a Trump administration will deregulate Big Tech, but how does that help you when the EU will just block you and fine you? What's the real gain to be had there?

What's the point in having your tax burden reduced if it means realizing greater interest? Have they forgotten that Trump had the largest increase in US deficits in history? Have they forgotten that those deficits, along with wrecking the global supply chain before the pandemic due to a trade war with China created the inflation that we're just now getting under control? What's the point in expanding your business when your customer is unable to buy any more product?

The Big Tech Billionaires may know a thing or two about business, but it's becoming clear they don't know much about economics - and ultimately, that ignorance is going to hurt their business.