Last week was eventful for Silicon Valley moguls supporting Donald Trump’s bid for the presidency.
Amidst the collision of tech and Trump, I was invited by Leda Health founder Madison Campbell to the Republican National Convention. During my time there in Milwaukee, the Valley’s presence was unmistakable. Figures like Jacob Helberg, David Sacks, and J.D. Vance were front and center. I also encountered Thiel protégé Blake Masters among Texas delegates and talked politics with Vivek Ramaswamy about Silicon Valley’s support for Trump.
Tense contradictions
As we navigated through the convention’s security and protests, the presence of Silicon Valley in the MAGA-verse was palpable. Conversations with tech figures like Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen revealed surprising endorsements for Trump. While the GOP actively courted the tech industry with promises of crypto and AI support, tensions arose over conflicting policies and ideologies.
Despite these contradictions, the allure of Silicon Valley for Trump’s campaign persisted, with political strategist Jeff Miller and conservative influencer CJ Pearson playing key roles at VIP parties.
Inside the VIP party
Exploring the dynamic between Silicon Valley and Trump further, conversations at VIP parties touched on the evolving relationship between tech and politics. While tensions between traditional Republican donors and tech elites persisted, the potential benefits for tech-based businesses were clear, albeit amidst moral quandaries.
