This chapter explores Silicon Valley's historical relationship with politics, from its libertarian values to its support for Democratic presidents like Obama, as well as its shift towards the right. It delves into Peter Thiel's endorsement of Trump, his involvement in the PayPal Mafia, and how certain tech leaders navigated their relationship with the Trump administration, lobbying for their interests during meetings at Trump Tower.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s pick of Senator JD Vance as his running mate has many in Silicon Valley rejoicing — they see the former venture capitalist as one of their own. With Elon Musk’s commitment of $45 million a month to a super-PAC supporting the Trump campaign, it's the latest sign of Silicon Valley elites embracing the MAGA movement.
But the tech world hasn’t always embraced Trump. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg Businessweek columnist Max Chafkin joins host David Gura to talk about how we got here and what their support could mean for another Trump term.
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