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What Happens When You Endorse Trump In Silicon Valley

Portfolio Armor's Photo
by Portfolio Armor
Friday, Aug 16, 2024 - 11:31
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz of A16Z.

The Knives Come Out

In a post last month ("How The Democrats Los Silicon Valley"), I mentioned that top Silicon Valley venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz had endorsed Trump.

(I also mentioned this in a post earlier this week about Mark Pincus's reaction to Trump's conversation with Elon Musk on Monday, though Pincus has since clarified that he's undecided about who to vote for in November). 

Despite the Democrats losing Andreessen and Horowitz, David Sacks, and other Silicon Valley luminaries, they haven't lost all of them. One they still have is Sir Michael Moritz of Sequoia Capital. A journalist on Moritz's payroll contacted Ben Horowitz ahead of writing an apparent hit piece on him. 

Ben Horowitz Responds

In a post on X, Ben Horowitz quoted the message from the journalist, Emily Shugerman:

My name is Emily Shugerman and I am a reporter working with the SF Standard. I am working on a story about Ben’s decision to endorse Donald Trump—and Felicia’s apparent support of that decision—as well as your shifting political priorities and alliances over the last several years. I’m sending you a detailed list of topics I intend to cover in case you would like to respond to any points specifically, but am also open to a broader conversation about your political priorities and how they have or have not changed in recent years.

And then responded [emphasis mine]: 

“Know you a master manipulator and habitual liar too But don't tell no lie about me and I won't tell truths 'bout you” -Kendrick Lamar

Sir Michael Moritz is now having his fake disinformation ‘newspaper’ fabricate hit pieces on his business rival, me.

And, he has chosen to attack my wife, Felicia.

Anyone who knows Felicia knows that she has done more than anybody in Silicon Valley to bring people of all walks of life together in tech and lift up the people in society who struggle the most. She continues this work helping people all over the world through her continued support of prison clemency programs like Taking Action for Good, healthcare programs at UMC, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Stanford Hospital and The Ruvo Center for Brain Health, and creative programs for disadvantaged youth like the Chloe and Maud Foundation, The Apollo Theater, Las Vegas Dance and Arts, and Where Art Can Occur among many other causes. She is President of the Paid in Full Foundation, honoring and supporting the original heroes of hip hop. Beyond that, she brings people together from all walks of life and continues to create opportunities for people who would never otherwise have them.

Meanwhile, under Moritz’s leadership, his venture firm never hired a single black person. When asked about hiring women, he rejected the notion saying he wouldn’t “lower the bar.” 

Moritz's commitment to meritocracy suggests he's not all bad. Back to Horowitz: 

Moritz has now decided to sic his reporter Emily Shugerman on us to imply that Felicia somehow abandoned her work, but Shugerman carefully avoided talking to any of the thousands of people Felicia has helped. The coming article is a cheap hit piece and its premise is blatantly racist. Implying that a black woman cannot make clear decisions on politics consistent with her philanthropic work is gross. Tying a specific statement that I made on technology policy – that Biden’s tech policies regarding crypto, AI, and tax structure were worse than Trump’s proposals – to Felicia is dishonest.

When I asked Felicia if she wanted to reply, she simply said: “Mike Moritz and Emily Shugerman can kiss the crack of my black ass.”

Marc Andreessen Responds

Ben Horowitz's partner Marc Andreessen weighed in as well: 

Update: Mark Pincus Weighs In Too

The last like of his cut off there is, 

@bhorowitz

is an awesome, heartfelt founder’s founder no matter what his politics are.

Let's hope Andreesen, Horowitz, and Musk's preferred candidate wins in November. A point I may elaborate on in a future post: some centrist Democrats seem to assume that the GOP will always be there to block the Democrats' most radical proposals, but if Kamala wins in November, I don't think there are any brakes on her train. Another four years of importing millions of future Democrats per year and the Senate and the White House may be out of reach for the GOP.  

Speaking Of Elon Musk...

A competitor to one of Musk's businesses just spiked 50% this week, on news they're about to take the first baby step into the arena. On the Portfolio Armor trading Substack, we have a trade teed up to bet against that company. Be sure to subscribe below if you'd like a heads up when we place it. 

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