US election 2024 — Kamala Harris vs Donald Trump: On whose side are America’s biggest tech CEOs and leaders
The United States is witnessing one of the most tightly contested elections in recent history. Analysts suggest a near photo finish between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. Some have even hinted that national polls may see a near tie, with slight variations between states. The US election 2024 is widely regarded as one of the most divisive in American history. Both Harris and Trump have repeatedly warned against potentially catastrophic consequences if the other is elected. Voters too are said to hold vastly different views on key issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion rights. As the elections reach the finishing line, here’s a look at the biggest supporters of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in Silicon Valley, as well as those who didn’t openly share their allegiance with either of them.
Kamala Harris supporters in Silicon Valley
Shark Tank judge Mark Cuban
Tech entrepreneur Mark Cuban, widely known for his role as a judge on the reality show Shark Tank, has publicly endorsed Kamala Harris, citing her non-ideological stance. Cuban, who supported Trump in 2015, believes a second Trump administration would be detrimental to small businesses.
Co-founder Sun Microsystems and investor Vinod Khosla
Another staunch supporter of Kamala Harris is Vinod Khosla. The prominent Silicon Valley investor with stakes in startups like DoorDash, Stripe, and Instacart has openly declared his support for Harris.
Facebook’s former COO Sheryl Sandberg
Facebook’s former COO Sheryl Sandberg endorsed Harris shortly after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race. Sandberg praised Harris as an accomplished leader and a strong advocate for abortion rights, expressing her excitement to support her.
Netflix executive chairman Reed Hastings
Reed Hastings, Netflix executive chairman, has contributed over $7 million to Harris’ presidential campaign through a super political action committee (PAC).
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman joined 88 business leaders in signing an open letter supporting Harris for the presidency.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
Though OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has not publicly endorsed any candidate, but the Harris Victory Fund reportedly received a donation from him, according to Fortune.
Supporters of Donald Trump in Silicon Valley
On the other hand, tech mogul and the world’s richest man Elon Musk has emerged as a significant supporter of Donald Trump in this election. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who refrained from endorsing anyone in 2020, is now actively campaigning for Trump both on the ground and on X, the platform he owns. Musk has expressed willingness to lead a government department if Trump wins and has voiced concerns about potential imprisonment if Harris becomes president.
Musk has used his wealth to influence the election, including a $1 million daily giveaway to a random person in a swing state, which the US Department of Justice argued was illegal. However, a district court in Pennsylvania declined to block the giveaway.
PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel
PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, a major investor in Facebook, has stated he will vote for Trump but will not contribute financially to his campaign. Thiel remains strongly pro-Trump and pro-JD, supporting them in other ways.
Venture capitalists Marc Andreesen and Ben Horowitz
Marc Andreesen and Ben Horowitz, leaders of one of Silicon Valley’s largest venture capital firms, are backing Trump, criticizing the Biden administration for over-regulation and taxation, as reported by TechCrunch.
Former head of Sequoia Capital Douglas Leone
Former head of Sequoia Capital Douglas Leone is also supporting Trump, expressing concerns about the country’s direction, immigration system, deficit, and foreign policy.
Tech CEOs who have not openly announced their support
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Facebook parent Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook have not openly endorsed any candidate as the next US President.
