Tech & venture capital · 2024 – 2026

Trump Lackeys

Tech CEOs and venture capitalists who backed Donald Trump in 2024, and what they have said or done for him since.

“What I have seen in the last six months to a year is, many people who used to say one thing have absolutely shifted over here. … We, of all times right now, should be living those values out … not pivoting to what some comms person tells us is the right thing to do.”

Melinda French Gates, on tech leaders siding with Trump. Bloomberg’s The Circuit, June 2025 (via Fortune)

Trump endorsers

22 entries · as of Nov 3, 2026

Elon Musk

CEO, Tesla & SpaceX; owner of X / xAI

2024 support

Endorsed Trump July 13, 2024 (right after the Butler assassination attempt); funded and ran America PAC; campaigned in Pennsylvania.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Led DOGE in early 2025. Public feud with Trump in June 2025. Reconciled by early 2026 (Mar-a-Lago dinner) and is funding Republicans in the 2026 midterms (Axios, Dec 2025).

Supporter, with a public break in mid-2025

Marc Andreessen

Co-founder, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)

2024 support

Endorsed Trump in July 2024 on the a16z podcast ('The Little Tech Agenda') and pledged donations.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Advised the transition. Gave $3M to MAGA Inc., Trump's main super PAC. He and a16z are among the largest donors in the 2026 midterms.

Continuing supporter

Ben Horowitz

Co-founder, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)

2024 support

Endorsed Trump with Andreessen in July 2024 and pledged donations.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Gave $3M to MAGA Inc. for the 2026 cycle (Forbes).

Continuing supporter (mostly through donations)

David Sacks

Co-founder, Craft Ventures; former PayPal COO

2024 support

Co-hosted a June 6, 2024 San Francisco fundraiser (about $12M raised) and spoke at the 2024 RNC.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

White House AI & crypto czar from 2025 to March 2026. Now co-chairs the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).

Continuing supporter; served in the administration

Chamath Palihapitiya

CEO, Social Capital; All-In podcast co-host

2024 support

Co-hosted the June 2024 Sacks fundraiser and gave about $300K to Trump's 2024 effort (FEC records, per Rolling Stone).

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

In July 2026 on CNBC, said the media 'lied' about Trump.

Continuing supporter

Joe Lonsdale

Co-founder, Palantir; founder, 8VC

2024 support

Publicly backed Trump in 2024 and donated through America PAC.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Hosted a JD Vance fundraiser in Austin (March 2026) and is backing Republicans in the midterms. Publicly opposed the proposed $5,000 'Trump dividend' (Sept 2026).

Continuing supporter, with some policy disagreements

Shaun Maguire

Partner, Sequoia Capital

2024 support

Announced support for Trump in May 2024 and gave $300K to the campaign.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Helped interview Defense Department candidates during the transition (NYT). Described in 2025 coverage as one of Silicon Valley's most outspoken Trump supporters.

Continuing supporter

Tyler & Cameron Winklevoss

Co-founders, Gemini (crypto exchange); Winklevoss Capital

2024 support

Endorsed Trump in June 2024 and donated bitcoin to his campaign.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Gave $21M in bitcoin to the pro-Trump Digital Freedom Fund super PAC (Aug 2025), plus about $13M each this cycle, mostly to MAGA Inc. (Reuters, Oct 2026).

Continuing supporters

Palmer Luckey

Founder, Anduril Industries (defense tech); Oculus founder

2024 support

Hosted a Trump fundraiser in 2024; has supported Trump since 2016.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

May 2025 on X: 'I hosted fundraisers for Trump in both of the last two elections.' Publicly defended Trump's Golden Dome missile-defense plan (2025).

Continuing supporter

Peter Thiel

Co-founder, PayPal & Palantir; Founders Fund

2024 support

Mixed. Said he would vote for Trump but would not donate. Mentor of JD Vance, who became Trump's running mate.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Reported in mid-2026 (WSJ/NYT) to be leaving Meta's board to help Republicans in the midterms. Has also publicly criticized some Trump decisions.

Qualified / mixed supporter

Doug Leone

Former managing partner, Sequoia Capital

2024 support

Endorsed Trump in June 2024 (reversing his 2021 break with Trump) and donated to America PAC.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

No public statement found for 2025–2026.

2024 supporter; recent support unconfirmed

David Marcus

CEO, Lightspark; former PayPal president

2024 support

Announced support for Trump in 2024.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

No public statement found for 2025–2026.

2024 supporter; recent support unconfirmed

Joe Gebbia

Co-founder, Airbnb

2024 support

Voted for Trump; a former Clinton and Biden donor. He made the vote public in Jan 2025, citing the border crisis.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Named the first U.S. Chief Design Officer, heading the White House National Design Studio (Aug 2025), and publicly thanked Trump.

Continuing supporter; serves in the administration

Jacob Helberg

Adviser to Palantir CEO; tech policy figure

2024 support

Major Trump donor and informal adviser in 2024 (SF Standard).

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Became Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (Oct 2025).

Continuing supporter; serves in the administration

John Hering

Venture capitalist; co-founder, Lookout

2024 support

Gave $500K to America PAC (SF Standard).

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Helped Trump's transition team in Florida (SF Standard, Jan 2025).

Supporter through the transition; no later statements found

Naval Ravikant

Co-founder, AngelList; angel investor

2024 support

Listed among Trump's 2024 non-political endorsements (Wikipedia).

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Donated to the pro-Trump, pro-crypto Digital Freedom Fund super PAC (2025; amount not disclosed).

Continuing supporter (through donations)

Jesse Powell

Co-founder & chairman, Kraken (crypto exchange)

2024 support

Gave $1M, mostly in ether, to Trump's campaign (June 2024), calling him 'the only pro-crypto major party candidate' in an X post.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Reportedly gave $1M to the inauguration. Later called on Trump to intervene in Roger Ver's case.

Continuing supporter (mainly financial)

David Bailey

CEO, BTC Inc. (Bitcoin Magazine); Nakamoto

2024 support

Gave about $500K in bitcoin and helped bring Trump to speak at the 2024 Bitcoin Conference.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Described in coverage as a Trump crypto adviser. BTC Inc. gave to MAGA Inc. In Aug 2025 he floated a $100–200M pro-bitcoin PAC.

Continuing supporter

Mark Pincus

Founder, Zynga

2024 support

Nov 3, 2024 on X: 'I am voting for Trump. I have been a lifelong Dem...' He cited Israel, antisemitism and free speech.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

No public statement found for 2025–2026.

2024 supporter; recent support unconfirmed

Tom Siebel

Founder & former CEO, C3.ai; founder, Siebel Systems

2024 support

Co-hosted a Trump fundraiser in Woodside, CA (Sept 2024) and donated to Trump's campaign and pro-Trump PACs.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

No public statement found for 2025–2026.

2024 supporter; recent support unconfirmed

Eoghan McCabe

CEO, Intercom

2024 support

Attended a June 2024 Trump fundraiser and posted a photo with Trump on X. Celebrated Trump's win in Nov 2024.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

No public statement found for 2025–2026.

2024 supporter; recent support unconfirmed

JP Richardson

CEO, Exodus (crypto wallet)

2024 support

Donated about $854K in bitcoin to Trump's 2024 effort.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

No public statement found for 2025–2026.

2024 supporter; recent support unconfirmed

Soft Supporters

6 entries

Executives and investors who courted or funded Trump without endorsing him in 2024.

Larry Ellison

Co-founder & CTO, Oracle

2024 support

Did not publicly endorse Trump. Reportedly gave about $45M to a pro-Trump nonprofit (WSJ, via Fortune).

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Appeared with Trump to announce the Stargate AI project (Jan 2025); Oracle got a role in the TikTok U.S. deal. Close ally, but not a vocal endorser.

A financial and business ally, not a public endorser

Greg Brockman

President & co-founder, OpenAI

2024 support

No public 2024 endorsement found.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Gave $25M to MAGA Inc. (Sept 2025).

No 2024 support found

Keith Rabois

Managing director, Khosla Ventures

2024 support

Said he was 'not a fan' of Trump and would focus on electing a GOP Congress.

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

His spouse, Jacob Helberg, became Under Secretary of State in the Trump administration (Oct 2025).

Republican donor, but not a clear Trump endorser

Jensen Huang

Co-founder & CEO, Nvidia

2024 support

No endorsement. Did not back a candidate in 2024 (NPR).

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Repeatedly praised Trump. At Nvidia's Washington conference (Oct 2025) he thanked Trump for 'making America great again.' Confirmed Nvidia's donation to the White House ballroom. Reported to sit on Trump's science and technology advisory council (PCAST).

Strong public praise since 2025, but no 2024 support

Jason Calacanis

Founder & CEO, LAUNCH; angel investor; All-In podcast co-host

2024 support

Did not endorse and has declined to say how he voted ('trying to remain independent'). Co-hosted the All-In podcast with Sacks and Palihapitiya, who backed Trump, and said in 2024 he would be 'printing money in a Trump administration.'

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Mostly critical. Apr 2025: said Trump had accomplished only 'complete market chaos.' Jul 2026: called him the 'worst-spending president in history.' Fall 2026: said he is surrounded by 'loyal incompetents.' Praised Trump's backing of high-skilled immigration (Jul 2026).

All-In circle, never endorsed; critical since 2025

Zuckerberg, Bezos, Cook, Altman, etc.

CEOs of Meta, Amazon, Apple, OpenAI

2024 support

None endorsed a candidate in 2024 (NPR).

Support voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Courted the administration after the election (e.g., inauguration donations and attendance), but did not endorse Trump. Cook, for example, gave $1M of his own money to the inauguration fund and presented Trump with a glass-and-gold plaque (Aug 2025).

Engagement with the administration is not an endorsement

Stalwart Opposers: Stood up to Trump

7 entries

Well-known tech figures who opposed Trump before the 2024 election, and whether they have kept it up since.

Reid Hoffman

Co-founder, LinkedIn; partner, Greylock

Opposition before the 2024 election

Critic since 2016 (called Trump 'worse than useless' in 2017). Major Harris donor; promoted the 2024 'VCs for Kamala' pledge.

Opposition voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Jan 2026: urged tech leaders to speak out against the administration after two U.S. citizens were killed by federal agents in Minneapolis ('We can't bend the knee to Trump'). Trump has called for investigations of him.

Continuing critic

Mark Cuban

Investor; founder, Cost Plus Drugs; former Dallas Mavericks owner

Opposition before the 2024 election

Signed the 2024 Harris pledge and campaigned for Harris in swing states. Called Trump's tariff plan an 'inflationary tax.' Trump called him a 'loser.'

Opposition voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Apr 2025: warned that Trump's tariffs plus DOGE cuts could cause a crisis 'far worse' than 2008. Kept criticizing the tariffs through 2025.

Continuing critic (no 2026 statement found)

Vinod Khosla

Founder, Khosla Ventures; Sun Microsystems co-founder

Opposition before the 2024 election

Signed the 2024 Harris pledge. Said Trump has 'no values, lies, cheats... hates immigrants like me' and called his values 'depraved' (Oct 2024).

Opposition voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Sept 2025: said a Trump Nobel Peace Prize would be a 'dirtbag medal.' Mar 2026: said he 'mostly' agrees with Trump on AI and China but disagrees with most of his other policies.

Continuing critic, with agreement on AI/China

Melinda French Gates

Founder, Pivotal Ventures; co-founder, Gates Foundation

Opposition before the 2024 election

Endorsed Harris in 2024 and said she would not vote for Trump, citing his treatment of women.

Opposition voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Criticized billionaires who embraced Trump, saying the public had seen 'some of their true personalities' (CNN, Apr 2025). June 2025: said many people 'have absolutely shifted' and are 'pivoting to what some comms person tells us is the right thing to do' (Bloomberg's The Circuit).

Continuing critic

Ron Conway

Founder, SV Angel

Opposition before the 2024 election

Signed the 2024 'VCs for Kamala' pledge; longtime Democratic megadonor.

Opposition voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Reported to have given more than $6M to Democrats in the 2026 midterms.

Continuing opponent (through donations)

Dustin Moskovitz

Co-founder, Facebook & Asana

Opposition before the 2024 election

Pledged $20M to defeat Trump in 2016. Gave about $30M to Harris's 2024 effort (Bloomberg).

Opposition voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

No public statement found for 2025–2026.

2024 opponent; recent stance unconfirmed

Reed Hastings

Co-founder & former CEO, Netflix

Opposition before the 2024 election

Said in 2016 that Trump 'would destroy much of what is great about America.' Gave about $7M to a pro-Harris PAC in 2024.

Opposition voiced, Nov 2024 – Nov 2026

Mixed. Supported Trump's $100K H-1B visa fee in 2025, calling it a 'great solution.' Trump later attacked him on Truth Social over his Netflix board exit.

Mixed: past critic, some 2025 agreement