Trump’s 5 Powerful Tech Allies
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- In the wake of Trump’s presidential win, the world is paying close attention to his entourage.
- Silicone Valley tech leaders flocked to endorse Trump during his campaign, with some making substantial contributions.
- Elon Musk, Larry Ellison and David O. Sacks are among a host of vocal supporters who helped Trump reach the White House.
- Trump has promised a pro-business, innovation-friendly environment during the next four years – but who will shape those policies?
With the US Election just behind us, the world is paying close attention to how this changing of the guard might shape the future. Few arenas will show this more clearly than the booming tech industry. In todays tech landscape, state of the art technology and vast influence is concentrated in the hands of a powerful few – and some of them are already close with the White House.
Donald Trump’s fluid political positions and fondness for strategic friendships made his campaign a magnet for US tech tycoons, with endorsements, appearances and donations all helping him cross the finish line. As POTUS 47 prepares to take office and unveil his blueprint for the future, it’s worth knowing who’s in his coterie.
In this article, we’ll examine the US teh leaders closest to Trump, and discuss how they might influence the future during his coming term.
Trump’s 5 Powerful Tech Allies
Silicon Valley didn’t lag behind and many of the leaders in the area expressed their support for the former president. Here is a list of key figures in the tech world who have endorsed or financially supported Trump’s presidential campaign.
| Name | Net Worth | Company | Business Area | Amount Pledged |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elon Musk | $264 billion | Tesla, X, SpaceX, Neuralink | Electric Vehicles, Space Exploration, Brain-Machine Interface | over $118 million |
| Larry Ellison | $209 billion | Oracle | Cloud Computing, Database Management | over $30 million |
| Peter Thiel | $11.7 billion | Palantir Technologies | Big Data, Analytics | over $16 million |
| David O. Sacks | between $250 million and $2 billion | Craft Ventures | Internet technology, Software, Venture Capital | raised over $12 million |
| Marc Andreessen & Ben Horowitz | $5.2 billion combined | Andreessen Horowitz | Venture Capital | $5 million |
1. Elon Musk – Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink
“He’s a character, he’s a special guy, he’s a super genius. We have to protect our geniuses, we don’t have that many of them.” – Trump on Musk
- Net Worth: over $264 billion
- Company: Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink
- Business Area: Electric Vehicles, Space Exploration, Brain-Machine Interface
- Amount Pledged: over $118 million
Elon Musk, the meme-obsessed entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, has publicly praised Trump’s approach to business and technology. His rapid scaling of Tesla and SpaceX align with Trump’s pro-innovation stance. And the relationship has been mutually beneficial: Musk’s free-speech Twitter revamp incrased the platform’s appeal with a more Republican following, allowing support to galvanize among Trump’s base.
Musk publicly – and very enthusiastically- endorsed Trump back in July 2024, making the courtship official. So what might we expect from this dynamic duo? Musk’s diverse business portfolio vehicles, space tourism and brain microchips, so we might see favourable regulatory environments in those areas. There are rumours that a political post may be even in Musk’s crosshairs.
And on a less mysterious note, we’re likely to see many more Pro-Trump memes on X, as Elon continues to burnish the relationship the way only he can.
2. Larry Ellison – Oracle
“I don’t think he’s the devil — I support him and want him to do well” – Ellison on Trump
- Net Worth: $209 billion
- Company: Oracle
- Business Area: Cloud Computing, Database Management
- Amount Pledged: over $30 million to the Republican party
Larry Ellison, Oracle’s co-founder and executive chairman, has been a long-standing Republican and vocal in his support for Trump. In 2020, he even hosted a fundraiser for Trump at his estate in Rancho Mirage, California. Attendees could pay $100,000 for a golf outing and a photo with the president, or $250,000 for additional access to a round-table discussion.
Furthermore, in 2022, Ellison donated over $30 million to the campaign of South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott. Oracle’s partnership with the federal government, particularly through its database and cloud services, has grown under Ellison’s leadership, positioning the company as a trusted provider in the public sector.
Ellison’s support of Trump and the Republican party indicates a close alignment of values, especially around business-friendly policies that reduce government intervention in tech. Lastly, Oracle’s growth has been bolstered by government contracts, and Ellison’s relationship with the Trump administration could continue to favor Oracle’s business.
3. Peter Thiel – Palantir, PayPal, Founders Fund
“If you hold a gun to my head I’ll vote for Trump.”
Net Worth: $11.7 billion
Company: Palantir Technologies
Business Area: Big Data, Analytics
Amount Pledged: over $16 million to the Republican party
Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, has made his name in Silicon Valley as a visionary in technology and a proponent of limited regulation. His support for President Trump is no secret. Back in 2016, he donated $1.25 million to Trump’s campaign. Despite his early support, the relationship between the two took a turn for the worse.
Moreover, the Trump administration proved somewhat disappointing to Thiel as it failed to make the necessary changes he wanted to see. At the same time, Thiel played a key role in JD Vance’s rise in the political scene, donating more than $15 million to his 2022 Ohio Senate campaign.
Ultimately, the tech entrepreneur decided to remain neutral in the 2024 election. In an interview in 2024, Thiel commented:
“If you hold a gun to my head I’ll vote for Trump.”
Known for his investments in big data and AI through Palantir, Thiel has frequently advocated for a strong national defense bolstered by technological advancements. In 2024, it seems that Thiel is closer to Vance than Trump but that might be enough to encourage policies that favor tech-driven government solutions.
4. David O. Sacks – PayPal, Yammer, Zenefits
- Net Worth: between $250 million and $2 billion
- Company: Craft Ventures
- Business Area: Internet technology, Software, Venture Capital
- Amount Pledged: Raised over $12 million through a fundraiser
David O. Sacks is a South African-American entrepreneur, author, and tech investor who has also built an impressive career across Silicon Valley. Furthermore, Sacks is mostly known for his leadership as the former CEO of Zenefits, COO of PayPal, and CEO of Yammer. He’s currently a general partner at Craft Ventures, the venture capital fund he co-founded in 2017.
In 2024, Sacks hosted a high-profile fundraiser for Trump at his multimillion-dollar home. Attendees contributed as much as $300,000 each to support Trump’s campaign, gathering a total of more than $12 million. Sacks’ endorsement reflects his alignment with Trump’s pro-business and tech-friendly policies, as well as his advocacy for innovation and reduced regulatory oversight in the tech industry.
In addition, among the fundraiser’s guests were some well-known faces. These included crypto exchange founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commissioner Jacob Helberg, venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, C3.ai CEO Tom Siebel, and also Joe Voboril, a partner at 1789 Capital.
5. Andreessen & Horowitz – Andreessen Horowitz
“If a candidate supports an optimistic technology-enabled future, we are for them.”
- Net Worth: Andreessen – $1.7 billion; Horowitz – $3.5 billion
- Company: Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z)
- Business Area: Venture Capital
- Amount Pledged: $5 million ($2.5 million each)
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz are venture capital billionaires and co-founders of the influential firm Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z). Known for their investments in tech companies like Air Bnb, Fursquare and Stripe, the pair have a legacy of close relationships with tech leaders, and significant influence in Silicon Valley.
Back in July 2024, the duo announced that they would be donating to the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, with each of the two providing $2.5 million to pro-Trump super PAC “Right for America,”, according to FEC filings. This drew press attention, since neither Andreessen nor Horowitz had previously donated funds to a presidential campaign, suggesting a shift in Silicon Valley’s traditionally liberal stance.
Andreessen, who previously endorsed Clinton in 2016, has expressed concerns about Biden’s policies potentially favoring established industry players over tech startups. The duo’s backing of Trump is primarily motivated by his stance on tech-forward areas like crypto and AI regulation, which they believe will foster innovation.
This event was foreshadowed at the end of 2023 when the firm stated that its partners would support candidates who are “advancing technology.” Andreessen and Horowitz’s endorsement reflects a belief that Trump’s policies may be more beneficial for emerging tech companies.
Closing Thoughts
The relationship between President Trump and the world’s most power tech leaders has huge potential on both sides. But with a reputation for tumultuous relationships, only time will tell how these alliances come to shape the presidency.
As we watch from the sidelines, knowing who’s closest to Washington means you can monitor the story – and even make informed decisions about your portfolio.
