Coinspeaker a16z Co-founders Officially Declare Support for Donald Trump
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, co-founders of the leading venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), have publicly declared their support for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
Before now, Andreessen was a loyal Democrat, supporting and voting for candidates such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. However, the tides have changed, and the venture capitalist has pledged his allegiance to the Republican candidate, Donald Trump.
Public Endorsement on Podcast
The duo revealed their preferred candidate for the upcoming election in November during a recent episode of “The Ben & Marc Show,” a podcast co-hosted by Andreessen and Horowitz.
In the podcast, the a16z executives said their decision to support Trump over current President Joe Biden stemmed from a business point of view.
Andreessen believes that Trump’s policies will be more favorable to the technology sector, particularly the startup ecosystem, than Biden’s administration. Therefore, he plans to vote for Trump, who recently survived an assassination attempt during a Saturday rally in Pennsylvania.
According to them, Trump’s policies would create a more conducive environment for technological advancement and entrepreneurial success.
Criticism of Biden Administration
In contrast, the a16z founders opined that Biden’s re-election as the US president over Trump will spell doom for the tech industry as well as the entire United States.
The duo criticized the Biden administration for what they perceive as overregulation and excessive taxation, which they said stifles innovation and hinder startup growth.
“I wish we didn’t have to pick a side,” said Horowitz, acknowledging the potential backlash from friends and family. “We literally believe the future of our business, the future of technology, and the future of America is at stake.”
Technological Superiority and National Strength
The duo also disclosed that technological superiority is one of three critical pillars, along with economic strength and military might, that have enabled America to achieve and maintain its status as the world’s leading nation. Both venture capitalists contend that American dominance in these areas was crucial in peacefully ending the Cold War, as the Soviet Union was unable to compete with the nation thanks to its massive technological infrastructure.
“Why is tech important? It’s because if you don’t have the tech part of that triangle, you’re not going to have the economy part, you’re not going to have the military part,” Andreessen said.
Industry Support for Trump
Meanwhile, Trump’s perceived leniency towards the technology sector has won the hearts of many industry executives in Silicon Valley, endorsing the former president to regain his seat at the White House.
Recently, Elon Musk reportedly declared his support for Trump. The tech billionaire also plans to support his campaign with a monthly contribution of $45 million. In addition, popular tech investor and entrepreneur David Sacks is also supporting the Trump’s presidential race. He publicly announced his decision during a speech on Monday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
Before the latest development, Sacks was a major critic of Trump. He once called for Trump’s disqualification due to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
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a16z Co-founders Officially Declare Support for Donald Trump