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☆ A rash of tech billionaires are pivoting to Trump — but not because they’re MAGA bros
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But there’s a small, powerful sect of Silicon Valley billionaires who are carving a path for the maybe-Trumpers and the MAGA-curious in the tech world. David Sacks, the billionaire tech investor, co-hosted a fundraiser last month at his San Francisco home and spoke at the Republican National Convention on Monday. In the last election cycle, the few Trump backers that existed in the Valley largely kept their support under the radar. Their numbers are still small, but they’re no longer hiding, and their wallets are open. And, as Kovacevich notes, just because there are a few big names turning toward Trump, “they’re not speaking for everybody.”“In fact, most of the big company CEOs aren’t terribly involved in partisan politics,” Kovacevich says.

Persons: CNN Business ’, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, MAGA, Elon Musk, Trump, David Sacks, San Francisco, Doug Leone, Palantir, Joe Lonsdale, what’s, Adam Kovacevich, ”, “, Biden, Lina Khan, Joe Biden’s, Gary Gensler, who’s, Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Trump’s, hasn’t, they’ve, Reid Hoffman, Eric Schmidt, aren’t, ” Kovacevich, “ They’re Organizations: CNN Business, New York CNN, Silicon, Wall Street, Trump, America PAC, San, Republican National Convention, Sequoia Capital, Biden, of, Financial Times, SEC, Big Tech, LinkedIn, Google Locations: New York, Silicon

☆ How a Network of Tech Billionaires Helped J.D. Vance Leap Into Power
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Ryan Mac | Theodore Schleifer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Vance flew to San Francisco to hold a fund-raiser for Donald J. Trump and to host a private dinner afterward with two dozen tech and crypto executives and investors. The location was the opulent Pacific Heights mansion of David Sacks, an entrepreneur and podcaster whom Mr. Vance had met through the tech investor Peter Thiel. Mr. Vance, now 39 years old, had worked for one of Mr. Thiel’s investment firms in San Francisco in 2016. During the $300,000-a-person dinner that night, Mr. Trump, seated between Mr. Sacks and another tech investor, Chamath Palihapitiya, informally polled the room about whom to choose as his running mate. Even with another vice-presidential hopeful, Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, in attendance, Mr. Sacks, Mr. Palihapitiya and others all had the same answer: Pick Mr. Vance, they told Mr. Trump, according to two people with knowledge of the exchange.

Persons: Vance, Donald J, David Sacks, Peter Thiel, Trump, Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya, Doug Burgum, Palihapitiya Organizations: Trump Locations: San Francisco, North Dakota

☆ Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, and David Sacks personally lobbied Trump to pick Vance: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewTesla billionaire Elon Musk, former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, and venture capitalist David Sacks personally lobbied Donald Trump to select JD Vance as his running mate, according to Axios. Axios said that a secret lobbying campaign continued into Monday morning, led by key figures such as Musk, Carlson, and Sacks. Tucker Carlson praised JD Vance after he was announced as Trump's VP nominee. Advertisement"When the Twin Towers came down, JD Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps, gung-ho to exact justice on America's enemies," Sacks wrote on X. Representatives for Donald Trump, JD Vance, Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, and David Sacks did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: —, Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson, David Sacks, Donald Trump, Vance, Trump, Mike Allen, Doug Burgum, Sen, Marco Rubio —, Axios, Carlson, Sacks, Carlson's, Rupert Murdoch, doesn't, JD Vance, Ivan Apfel, JD, America's Hitler, Sean Hannity Organizations: Service, Fox News, GOP, Business, Truth, CNN, — North Dakota Gov, Trump, Politico, Federal Trade, Big Tech, Marine Corps Locations: Ohio, United States, —, Ukraine, Israel, Europe, American

☆ Taiwan’s Blunt-Talking Leader Faces China’s Backlash
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-16 | by ( Chris Buckley | Amy Chang Chien | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese Coast Guard ships have sailed near Taiwan’s outer islands. When Lai Ching-te became Taiwan’s president in May, he vowed to stick with the China policies of his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. Ms. Tsai sought to avoid confrontation even as she defended Taiwan’s right to self-rule and rejected Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty. Yet Mr. Lai, while keeping Taiwan’s basic policy toward China unchanged, has been blunter in rebuffing its demands. Mr. Lai, who rose as a more plain-spoken politician, sees a need to more sharply lay out Taiwan’s separate status.

Persons: Lai Ching, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Lai, Ms . Tsai, “, ”, David Sacks Organizations: Coast Guard, Council, Foreign Relations Locations: China, Taiwan, Beijing, Taiwan’s, rebuffing, Asia

Vance as his running mate and a possible successor to lead the “Make America Great Again” movement. The 39-year-old served in Iraq and later went to Yale Law School, where he met his wife, Usha Vance. (She resigned from her role as a trial lawyer at Munger Tolles & Olson after Vance joined the ticket.) Vance rose to national prominence after publishing the best-selling memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.” He worked at Mithril Capital Management, a venture capital firm co-founded by Peter Thiel, and Steve Case’s Revolution. Vance is close to the libertarian wing of the tech industry.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vance, He’s, ”, he’s, Usha Vance, Olson, Peter Thiel, Steve Case’s, Thiel, Eric Schmidt, Marc Andreessen, David Sacks Organizations: Trump, Yale Law School, Mithril Capital Management, Ohio Senate, Republican National Convention Locations: Iraq, Munger, Silicon, Ohio

That person, Tesla billionaire Elon Musk, was one of several people urging Trump in the final moments to select Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Only moments earlier, Trump had shared the information with Vance himself, according to multiple people familiar with the call. Trump spent the final 24 hours waffling over his pick, multiple sources told CNN, leaving even those in his inner circle guessing about his ultimate choice. Several Republican donors argued for Youngkin as Trump’s pick in recent days as it became clear that Rubio and Burgum may not make the cut. “I can’t stomach Trump,” Vance said in an interview with NPR at the time.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Elon Musk, Trump, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Vance, ’ ” Vance, “, ’, Vance wasn’t, Vance’s, David Sacks, Monday’s, ” Vance, Doug Burgum, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio, Rubio, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Glenn Youngkin, Mike Pence, Pence, he’d, Burgum, Donald Trump Jr, Steve Bannon, Trump’s MAGA, Tucker Carlson, Rupert Murdoch, Sean Hannity, Bannon, Carlson, president’s MAGA, Usha Chilukuri Vance –, –, Sacks, Steve Witkoff, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Jim Banks, waffled, Trump Jr, I’ve, “ America’s Hitler, ”, CNN’s Dana Bash, ” Vance’s, Mike DeWine, wouldn’t, ” CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Kit Maher Organizations: CNN, Ohio, Vocal, Republican National Convention, Fox News, GOP, Trump, Trump’s, North Dakota Gov, Burgum, Virginia Gov, Indiana, Youngkin, Fox News Corp, onetime Fox News, Trump Jr, Indiana Rep, Mar, Ohio Republican, Democrats, NPR, Ohio’s Republican, Yale Locations: Milwaukee, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, Butler , Pennsylvania, Florida, South Carolina, Ohio, Cincinnati, Alabama, North Dakota

AdvertisementThe Thiel effectFor Vance, Thiel's influence first left its mark when he was still a student. Thiel also got a shoutout on the acknowledgments page of Vance's 2016 book, "Hillbilly Elegy." The former PayPal CEO has given $15 million to Vance's campaign, Politico reported — the largest donation ever given to one Senate candidate. AdvertisementOne of Trump's biggest donors in the 2016 presidential campaign, Thiel has re-emerged as a key player in the MAGA movement after largely sitting out the 2020 election. Thiel also appears to have pulled some of his Silicon Valley strings to advance Vance's campaign.

Persons: —, JD Vance, Peter Thiel, Vance, Donald Trump, Thiel, Palantir, Elon Musk, Thiel's, meaninglessness, Tolkien, Steve Case, Trumper, Win McNamee, MAGA, Trump, David Sacks, Musk, Sacks, Tucker Carlson, Nordin Catic, Mark Zuckerberg Organizations: Service, Republican National Convention, Republican, White, Business, PayPal, Trump, Bloomberg, Yale, Yale Law School, Thiel's, Mithril, Narya, Politico, Republican Party, Fox News, Cambridge University Union, Facebook, Palantir Technologies, Spotify Locations: Milwaukee, Ohio, Mithril, Mar, Cambridge, England, Airbnb

☆ Live updates: Trump officially becomes the Republican nominee as delegates vote
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-15 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated throughout the day. Former President Donald Trump on Monday officially received the 1,215 delegates required to become the official GOP presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. The designation came moments after Trump on Truth Social announced Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, to be his running mate, solidifying the Republican ticket for November. The convention kicks off days after Trump's attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday where one rally attendee was killed, and two others were critically injured. From Monday to Thursday, over 80 of Trump's closest allies, big-ticket donors and other lawmakers are expected to speak.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Sen, JD Vance, Trump's, Thomas Matthew Crooks, Corey Lewandowski, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Amber Rose, David Sacks, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, Kristi Noem Organizations: Monday, Republican National Convention, Truth Social, Republican, RNC, Trump, decibel, Georgia, South, South Dakota Gov Locations: Milwaukee, R, Ohio, South Carolina, City

☆ Big Tech CEOs, billionaires, and business leaders react to Trump rally shooting
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewProminent tech CEOs and billionaires condemned the shooting at a Trump rally on Saturday, with some voicing their support for former President Donald Trump. "I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery," Musk wrote on X. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement posted on X that he was "thankful President Trump wasn't seriously injured." "A full and speedy recovery to President Trump. There is no room in our country for political violence," he wrote.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Biden, Mark Cuban, Joe Biden, Tesla, Elon Musk, Trump, Musk, David Sacks, Shaun Maguire, Sacks, Marc Andreessen, Andreessen Horowitz, Tim Cook, Trump's, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Bezos, Satya Nadella, Brian Chesky, Trump wasn't, Marc Benioff, hasn't Organizations: Service, Trump, Business, Secret Service, Bloomberg, PAC, Biden Administration, Big Tech, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft Locations: Butler , Pennsylvania, Cuban, America

☆ Trump rally shooting draws flood of condemnation, support, and wild conspiracy theories
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-14 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA shooting at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday is drawing a flood of condemnation against the incident, supporting words for the former president, and, in less than an hour, unsubstantiated claims of a conspiracy. "God protected President Trump," Sen. Marco Rubio posted on X. Advertisement"I wish Donald Trump, and anyone else who may have been hurt, a speedy recovery," Sanders said in a statement on X. Some Trump supporters, however, were quick to find a scapegoat for the incident, blaming mainstream media and even spreading baseless claims that the shooting was a coordinated attack. And at least one prominent GOP lawmaker is suggesting conspiracy theories about the shooting.

Persons: —, what's, Joe Biden, Jill, Trump, Sen, Marco Rubio, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Sanders, Elon Musk, David Sacks, Sacks, Mike Collins, Collins Organizations: Service, Trump, Republican, Democratic, Business, Biden, AP, Bloomberg, Venture, GOP Locations: Pennsylvania, America, San Francisco, Georgia

☆ Here are the Trump megadonors, VP hopefuls and celebrities headlining the Republican National Convention
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally in Doral, Florida, on July 9, 2024. Various Trump megadonors are also on the RNC lineup including venture capitalist David Sacks and investors Steve and Zach Witkoff. In total, the RNC will have over 80 speakers rallying support around Trump before the convention culminates in officially designating him the Republican presidential nominee. Notably missing from the RNC speaker list is former First Lady Melania Trump, as well as Trump's daughter and former White House advisor Ivanka Trump. Melania has so far been conspicuously absent from the Trump campaign trail, drawing mockery from President Joe Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, frontrunners, frontrunners — Sens, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Doug Burgum —, Sen, Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, David Sacks, Steve, Zach Witkoff, Mike Johnson, Tucker Carlson, Amber Rose, Melania Trump, White, Ivanka Trump, Melania, Joe Biden, Eric Trump, Lara Trump Organizations: Republican, Republican National Convention, Capitol Hill, frontrunners —, North Dakota Gov, GOP, RNC, Trump, Senate, Conservative, Republican Party Locations: Doral , Florida, R, Ohio, Savannah, Milwaukee

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump looks on during his campaign event, in Racine, Wisconsin, U.S. June 18, 2024. In 2020, before Biden took office, the SEC accused Ripple and its founders of violating securities laws by acting as unregistered brokers of digital currency tokens, which the SEC regulates as securities. In 2023, the SEC filed a similar complaint against Coinbase, the largest U.S. crypto exchange platform. Trump has seized on this frustration in recent months, recasting himself from a crypto skeptic into a crypto supporter. Some in the crypto industry who are siding with Trump are going farther than just complaining about Gensler.

Persons: Donald Trump, David Sacks, Trump, Stuart Alderoty, Gary Gensler, Alderoty, Paul Grewal, Biden, Coinbase, Christopher Giancarlo, Heath Tarbert Organizations: U.S, Republican, CNBC, Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, Trump, —, Futures, Commission Locations: Racine , Wisconsin, U.S, San Francisco, Washington

☆ Silicon Valley figures are not holding back after Biden's disastrous debate
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Hasan Chowdhury | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewSeveral Silicon Valley figures have offered their thoughts on President Joe Biden's performance in Thursday's presidential debate — and it's not a pretty picture. AdvertisementSome Silicon Valley figures have warmed up to TrumpHeading into Thursday's debate, the election was clearly splitting opinion among Silicon Valley figures. AdvertisementTonight was a clear victory … for memes — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 28, 2024Plenty of other tech figures did not hold back when discussing Biden's performance, however. Some tech figures leaned into mockery. Y Combinator cofounder Paul Graham posted on X that "Biden bombing the debate" was good for the party as a better candidate would emerge.

Persons: —, Joe Biden's, it's, influencers, Donald Trump, Biden, Reid Hoffman, Vinod Khosla, Joe Biden, Kimberly White, Elon Musk, Musk, Elon, there's, Hoffman, Khosla, Trump, David Sacks, Sacks, — David Sacks, @DavidSacks, Jason Calacanis, Biden —, Nikita Bier, Shaun Maguire, Delian Asparouhov, Ralph Wiggum, Sarah Guo, Paul Graham, — Paul Graham, @paulg Organizations: Service, Business, Republican, Trump, Cuban Missile, America, Founders Fund, Democrats, Biden Locations: America, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Sequoia, Delian, San Francisco, Silicon

When the White House chief of staff, Jeffrey Zients, met with dozens of top executives in Washington this month, he encountered a familiar list of corporate complaints about President Biden. The executives at the Business Roundtable, a group representing some of the country’s biggest corporations, objected to Mr. Biden’s proposals to raise taxes. While the meeting was not antagonistic, it was indicative of three and a half years of executive grousing about Mr. Biden. Business leaders have criticized his remarks on “corporate greed” and his appearance on a union picket line. A number of prominent figures in Silicon Valley and on Wall Street — including the venture capitalists David Sacks and Marc Andreessen, and the hedge fund magnate Kenneth Griffin — have grown increasingly vocal in their criticism of Mr. Biden, their praise of former President Donald J. Trump, or both.

Persons: Jeffrey Zients, Biden, ”, —, Lina Khan, David Sacks, Marc Andreessen, Kenneth Griffin —, Mr, Donald J, Trump Organizations: White House, Business, Biden, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Washington, Silicon Valley

☆ Donald Trump Doesn’t Have the Support of Corporate America - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Recent headlines suggest that our nation’s business leaders are embracing the presidential candidate Donald Trump. His campaign would have you believe that our nation’s top chief executives are returning to support Mr. Trump for president, touting declarations of support from some prominent financiers like Steve Schwarzman and David Sacks. Mr. Trump continues to suffer from the lowest level of corporate support in the history of the Republican Party. I know this because I have worked with roughly 1,000 chief executives a year, running a school for them, which I started 35 years ago, and I speak with business leaders almost every day. The reality is that the top corporate leaders working today, like many Americans, aren’t entirely comfortable with either Mr. Trump or President Biden.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Steve Schwarzman, David Sacks, Biden Organizations: Republican Party

☆ LinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman takes aim at venture capitalist David Sacks for his support of Donald Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-23 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewLinkedIn cofounder Reid Hoffman had some choice words for venture capitalist David Sacks after he endorsed Donald Trump earlier this month. "Sadly, rather than originality, Sacks' letter awkwardly regurgitates pro-Trump groupthink." "The voters have experienced four years of President Trump and four years of President Biden," Sacks wrote in his letter. With respect to economic policy, foreign policy, border policy, and legal fairness, Trump performed better. Sacks' support for Trump — and Hoffman's vocal condemnation for it — comes as a growing faction of Silicon Valley elites have voiced their support for the former president post-conviction.

Persons: —, Reid Hoffman, David Sacks, Donald Trump, Sacks, Joe Biden's, Biden, Hoffman, Trump, Sacks hasn't Organizations: Service, Business, Trump, Putin, Silicon, Republican

☆ Elon Musk sure seems to be following Donald Trump's playbook
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Aditi Bharade | Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read previewElon Musk seems to be taking a page out of Donald Trump's playbook. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Musk admitted in his March interview with Don Lemon that he takes a "small amount" of ketamine every other week. Representatives for Musk didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, made outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, Elon, Donald Trump's playbook, Trump, Musk, David Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya, they've, Zuck, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, There's, Don Lemon, Lemon, Musk didn't Organizations: Service, White, Business, Tesla, SpaceX, Wall Street, Trump, Reuters, Republican, OpenAI, Microsoft, Representatives Locations: San Francisco

☆ Craft Ventures' David Sacks talks Trump fundraiser in Silicon Valley
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCraft Ventures' David Sacks talks Trump fundraiser in Silicon ValleyHosted by Brian Sullivan, “Last Call” is a fast-paced, entertaining business show that explores the intersection of money, culture and policy. Tune in Monday through Friday at 7 p.m. ET on CNBC.

Persons: David Sacks, Trump, Brian Sullivan, “ Organizations: Craft Ventures, CNBC Locations: Silicon Valley

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailTech for Trump: Silicon Valley investors turn against BidenSilicon Valley investors held a mega fundraiser for former President Trump in the heart of San Francisco - what was once an overwhelmingly liberal bastion of America. It's the most visible sign yet of a growing circle of tech elites switching camps -- and they're vocal, emboldened and rich. This week on a special edition of TechCheck, we go to David Sacks' mansion, as tech shifts to Trump.

Persons: Trump, David Sacks Organizations: Tech, Trump, Silicon, Biden Locations: San Francisco, America

☆ Trump in liberal San Francisco for high-dollar tech fundraiser
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

(Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images)Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will attend a fundraiser hosted by two tech venture capitalists in San Francisco on Thursday, a high-dollar event expected to draw Silicon Valley investors turned off by the Biden administration's policies. Trevor Traina, a San Francisco-based tech executive and former Trump ambassador to Austria, said business regulations implemented during Biden's presidency had alienated some people in the tech industry. Trump's campaign raked in record amounts after the guilty verdict last week, and the San Francisco event will add to his coffers. Vance, a potential running mate for Trump who previously lived in San Francisco and worked in venture capital, will attend the event, according to a source familiar with his plans. San Francisco remains a fertile fundraising ground for Democrats.

Persons: Donald Trump, Eva Marie Uzcategui, David Sacks, Chamath, Sacks, Jacqueline, Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, Trevor Traina, Biden's, Biden, Traina, Palihapitiya, Jacob Helberg, Peter, Helberg, Palantir, Peter Thiel, we've, Billionaire Elon Musk, Musk, J.D, Vance, Kamala Harris, Harris Organizations: U.S, Mar, Biden, Venture, Reuters, Democrat, Trump, Republican, San, Democrats Locations: Lago, West Palm Beach , Florida, New York, San Francisco, Francisco, Austria, bitcoin, Silicon, Israel

☆ ‘It’s Not 2016 Anymore’: Trump Finds Friends in Silicon Valley
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Theodore Schleifer | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Soon, the three Republicans — Mr. Vance, Mr. Trump Jr. and Mr. Vance’s friend, David Sacks, the Silicon Valley entrepreneur — were getting to know one another for a half-hour or so in a private dining room of the Conrad Hotel. It was there, at that impromptu post-dinner hang hours after Mr. Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, that Mr. Sacks signaled that he was all-in for Trump 2024. On Thursday evening, this time on his own California turf, it will be Mr. Sacks’s turn to host Team Trump. The former president himself is flying to San Francisco to attend a fund-raiser at Mr. Sacks’s $20 million home on the toniest street in the city’s tony Pacific Heights neighborhood. The private event, the first campaign fund-raiser since Mr. Trump’s criminal conviction last week, is expected to raise north of $12 million, according to people involved in the gathering.

Persons: J.D, Vance, Donald Trump Jr, — Mr, Trump, Vance’s, David Sacks, —, Conrad, Sacks, Sacks’s Organizations: Republican, Trump Jr, Trump, Team Trump, tony Locations: Ohio, California, San Francisco, Heights

David Sacks, a prominent venture capitalist and part of the "PayPal mafia," is holding the fundraiser at his Pacific Heights residence. Tickets sold for $50,000 a head, with a $300,000 tier that includes perks like a photo with Trump. The fundraiser in the heart of the tech capital represents a growing shift in sentiment toward Trump, especially in what's been historically a liberal stronghold. "I know there's going to be a lot of people who support Trump, but they don't want to admit it," Sacks said on the podcast last week. That's not to say Trump has lacked support from big money techies in the past.

Persons: Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels, David Sacks, Trump, Palihapitiya, Sacks, Hillary Clinton, he's, Peter Thiel Organizations: Republican, PayPal, Trump, Social Capital, Biden, Republican National Convention Locations: New York City, U.S, San Francisco, New York, what's

☆ With Trump, Silicon Valley elites see AI regulation as they see fit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

While Musk hasn't formally endorsed Trump, one reason Silicon Valley heavy-hitters could be gravitating toward a convicted former president is a desire to see less regulation on tech development in America. AdvertisementCuban, a vocal opponent of Trump who has expressed his support for Joe Biden, told Business Insider in an email that he views the support from Silicon Valley and Wall Street billionaires for Trump as "self-serving." "So unless it's very light touch, which is unlikely at this point, the more influence they have over Ai regulation the better the opportunity to advantage themselves." "It's still very early to be imposing regulation," Sacks said. That's not to say every Silicon Valley player investing in AI and Trump hopes to see an unrestrained, Wild West of artificial intelligence development.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Shaun Maguire, Trump, David Sacks, Biden, Puck, Sacks, hasn't, Mark Cuban, Joe Biden, Cuban, BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, Maguire, Sacks didn't, Garry Tan, Y, That's, Chamath, Palihapitiya, Musk, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Service, Silicon, Trump, Business, Sequoia Capital, Venture, Wall, acc, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Wildlife Service, British Locations: Russia, Ukraine, San Francisco, America, Silicon Valley, Cuban

☆ Trump's guilty verdict isn't scaring off his donors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewFormer President Donald Trump's conviction yesterday on falsifying business records hasn't dissuaded high-profile supporters on Wall Street — some of whom are newly energized by the historic verdict. "Bluntly, that's part of why I'm supporting him," Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital, wrote on X about a potential conviction. AdvertisementTech investor David Sacks, who was reportedly in talks to hold a Trump campaign fundraiser at his San Francisco home, denounced the guilty verdict on X. "A sham trial designed for one purpose: to brand Donald Trump as a 'felon,'" Sacks wrote yesterday on X. AdvertisementIt wasn't only prominent business leaders on Wall Street circling their wagons.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, hasn't, Shaun Maguire, Maguire, David Sacks, Donald Trump, Sacks, Omeed Malik, Farvahar Partners —, Malik, Trump, haven't, Bill Ackman, Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, didn't, Elon Musk, Musk Organizations: Service, Trump, Republican, Business, Sequoia Capital, Tech, San, Farvahar Partners, CNBC, National Republican, Pershing, Wall Street Journal, he's Locations: White

Instead, Wall Street and Silicon Valley money is flowing into his re-election campaign following the ruling. “This verdict will have less than zero impact on my support,” Omeed Malik, the president of 1789 Capital and a co-host of a Trump fund-raiser last night at the Pierre hotel, told Bloomberg. “I haven’t heard anybody who gives a …,” he told CNBC of the conviction, using an expletive. Some big Silicon Valley names are doubling down. One who did is Shaun Maguire, a partner at Sequoia Capital, who gave $300,000 to the Trump campaign after the ruling, even though he acknowledged the decision could cost him friends and hurt business.

Persons: Donald Trump, ” Omeed Malik, Andy Sabin, ”, Biden, Bill Ackman, Trump, David Sacks, Shaun Maguire Organizations: Republican, Pierre, Bloomberg, CNBC, Trump, Sequoia Capital Locations: Silicon, San Francisco

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