VSas if the wolves had entered the sheepfold. On the sidewalks of the Pacific Heights neighborhood in San Francisco, we can still see some slogans written in chalk, a legacy of Donald Trump’s visit: “ America first ». America first. The Republican candidate came suddenly on June 6 to raise funds from Silicon Valley billionaires, a week after his conviction by the criminal justice system in New York. In a city that is more than 80 percent Democratic, his supporters left graffiti and a horrible suspicion: Has Silicon Valley rallied?
The former president had been invited by two investors from San Francisco, entrepreneurs far from having the prestige of Mark Zuckerberg or Elon Musk, but enjoying a certain notoriety in their community: David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya. The first, a libertarian Republican, was one of the founders of the online payment giant PayPal. The second, of Sri Lankan origin, was one of the first executives at Facebook – he was also a big supporter of Barack Obama. The evening, which was held in a mansion on Broadway Avenue (“billionaires’ alley”), brought in 12 million dollars (11.2 million euros). Among the guests, a number of investors and leaders from the cryptocurrency sector.
Donald Trump had not appeared in San Francisco for more than ten years. In 2016, at the time of the still triumphant high-tech sector, its mantra – “restore America’s greatness” – had not had much resonance in a community that had little interest in the past. Eight years later, the Republican candidate’s slogan resonates more. Silicon Valley is in a growing pains. Despite – or because of – the explosion of artificial intelligence (AI), wages are falling and layoffs continue. While no significant regulations have been promulgated to regulate AI or limit concentration, many bosses accuse Joe Biden and his Democratic friends of undermining their creativity.
” To do business “
“There are more conservatives than before in Silicon Valley, that’s for sure”, Kara Swisher, the chronicler of the beginnings of tech, explained to us in March. But “they are more libertarian than anything else”, she nuanced. And they remain in the minority, facing pro-democratic figures like venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman or former Facebook number two Sheryl Sandberg.
Whatever the case, pro-Trump entrepreneurs no longer hesitate to show their support for the man whose vitriolic speech against migrants or attacks against platform bosses they denounced a few years ago. . One absent: investor Peter Thiel. The main black sheep of 2016, the only one at the time to join the Trump team, decided to stay away from the 2024 campaign. He said he ” disappointed ” by politics.
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