Here's What Tech Leaders Think About Trump

Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and investors spoke about Trump both onstage and to BuzzFeed News at Vanity Fair&;s New Establishment Summit in San Francisco.

Anne Wojcicki, CEO and cofounder of 23andMe

Anne Wojcicki, CEO and cofounder of 23andMe

“I think this election has been a force in [highlighting] much bigger issues about how we think about women and immigration. It&;s gotten people engaged. I also think the creative energy that&039;s come out about women — there&039;s really the beginning of true change and true movement. And I give Trump thanks for that,” she said, smiling. Issues that affect women, such as sexual assault, were “already starting to reach crescendo,” and have now become national conversations.

Brad Barket / Getty Images

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post

Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post

“I think the United States is incredibly robust. We’re not a new democracy, we’re very robust, but it is inappropriate for a presidential candidate to erode that around the edges. They should be trying to burnish it instead of erode it. And when you look at the pattern of things, it’s just not going after the media and threatening retribution for people who scrutinize him, it is also saying that he may not give a graceful concession speech if he loses the election. That erodes our democracy around the edges. Saying that he might block his opponent if he wins
erodes our democracy around the edges. These aren’t acceptable behaviors, in my opinion.

Alex Wong / Getty Images

Tim Draper, venture capitalist

Tim Draper, venture capitalist

“We have a duopoly in government and it&039;s not working … We&039;re just an ATM and our vote doesn&039;t even seem to count. Washington seems to get a lot more out of California than California gets out of Washington. We have a huge problem. We need a new system. We need a third party. We’re given two candidates and that&039;s the best we can do?&;”

Danny Moloshok / Reuters

Chamath Palihapitiya, founder and CEO of Social Capital

Chamath Palihapitiya, founder and CEO of Social Capital

“The short-term impacts [on the stock market if Trump is elected] are probably overstated and the long-term impacts are probably underestimated. Most of us who have public market exposure are getting an emotive risk off going into November 8th, and so a lot of the volatility is going to be short term and relatively muted if he wins. I just think you have to take a bigger step back and say: It’s like you’re just repudiating all the good things that make America awesome — and the long-term implications of that. People like us, people like me — I immigrated to this country and I pour enormous amounts of capital, I pay enormous amounts of taxes. I want to be here, I want to help this team win.”

Mike Windle / Getty Images


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Quelle: <a href="Here&039;s What Tech Leaders Think About Trump“>BuzzFeed

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