In an unprecedented display of public discord, Silicon Valley's tech elite are engaging in heated exchanges over their support for presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal. This political rift tests long-standing business relationships and friendships in an industry traditionally known for its left-leaning stance.
The WSJ reports that the political divide has become increasingly visible as some influential tech leaders, including Elon Musk, have vocally supported Trump, breaking from the industry's historically Democratic leanings. This shift has triggered backlash from those maintaining their support for the Democratic Party, particularly as Harris, a San Francisco Bay Area native, secured the presidential nomination.
The tension has manifested in public spats on social media platforms. For instance, Trump supporter Elon Musk called tech investor and Democrat Vinod Khosla "deranged" on X over his criticism of the former president. In another exchange, Aaron Levie, CEO of Box and a Harris supporter suggested that investor David Sacks must be "high on cough syrup" for backing Trump.
"Silicon Valley is very tense right now because there are two opposing camps of individuals who do business together," Sam Singer, a public relations expert with experience in Democratic political campaigns, told the WSJ. "This is an unusual situation," he added, highlighting the rarity of such open political conflicts in the tech industry.
The political divide has extended beyond social media, affecting business relationships and personal connections. Josh Felser, a climate tech investor, expressed concern in a LinkedIn post about discovering colleagues supporting Trump, stating, "I don't know how any of them talk to their kids about their support of Trump" and "Our relationships will likely be forever changed & I suspect history will not look upon them kindly."
Both campaigns have received significant financial support from tech leaders. In July, Harris's campaign committee raised approximately $204 million, while Trump's campaign committee raised $47.5 million. Harris's tech supporters have been energized by her recent fundraising success and her campaign rhetoric. At a San Francisco fundraiser co-hosted by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, Harris raised over $13 million.
Her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention, which touched on providing opportunities for founders and entrepreneurs and emphasized innovation in areas like artificial intelligence, was well-received by her Silicon Valley backers.
However, Trump supporters in the tech industry have expressed skepticism about Harris's tech-friendly stance. They worry about potential tax increases on wealthy individuals and corporations, as well as regulatory hurdles for emerging industries like cryptocurrency under a Harris administration.
The political tensions have led to the formation of new support groups within the tech community. Female tech workers have established organizations such as Tech4Kamala, VCs for Kamala, and Founders for Kamala to mobilize support for Harris. "We're witnessing an unprecedented polarization," said Edda Collins Coleman, co-founder of Tech4Kamala.
Some tech executives are calling for an end to the public squabbling. Mark Pincus, co-founder of Zynga, who has previously donated to Democratic causes, announced he isn't supporting either candidate this election. "We believe so deeply that our side is righteous that we morally judge the other side," he wrote on LinkedIn. "We have all gone too far."
