Staff Reports
Guess who’s back and making liberals sweat? It’s none other than our favorite rabble-rousing Ohio senator, J.D. Vance. Former President Donald Trump has done it again, tapping Vance as his running mate. This move is already sending waves through the political and tech worlds, and they’re not happy about it. Vance, famed author and unapologetic nationalist, will be the one tech moguls try to buddy up to in a possible second Trump White House. And let’s face it, this partnership sounds like it could be dynamite!
First things first: Vance’s Silicon Valley stint isn’t exactly front-page news, but it should be. After bagging a degree from Yale Law School, Vance packed his bags and headed to Silicon Valley, landing a job at Mithril Capital Management, funded by none other than Peter Thiel. Not too shabby, right? From Mithril, he hopped over to Revolution LLC in D.C., proving that the guy knows his way around venture capital. By 2019, he’d returned to his Ohio roots and started his own venture firm, Narya Capital, once again backed by Thiel and a few other big names like Eric Schmidt and Marc Andreessen. If this doesn’t scream “proto-typical American success story,” what does?
@Reuters #mustread: With Trump VP pick J.D. Vance, Silicon Valley conservatives land a 'tech bro' on the ticket https://t.co/nqFqhtowZY by @AlexandraUlmer @DawnC331 via @ReutersUS @ReutersPolitics
— Susan Heavey (@susanheavey) July 17, 2024
Now, here’s the kicker: while the ultra-liberal tech giants like Zuckerberg and Bezos might be on the Trump enemies list, a good number of Silicon Valley insiders are crossing their fingers for Vance, seeing him as the guy who could push their free-market dreams into reality. Crystal McKellar, one of Vance’s old colleagues from Mithril, believes he’s a free-market champion who prioritizes growth and innovation, all while cutting down on those annoying over-regulations. Bring it on, J.D.!
Of course, Vance is also popular for his nationalistic rhetoric, and the left loves to clutch their pearls over it. The liberals are frantic, claiming his nationalist approaches will foster isolationism and promote a homogenous society. But come on, his policies emphasize patriotism and keeping America where it belongs — cutting deals that benefit us, not bootlicking foreign powers. Critics are just mad that Vance unapologetically wants to pull America back from its world-policing duties and focus on the home front.
Tech insiders aren’t just curious about Vance; some are outright thrilled. Matt Murphy of Menlo Ventures can’t stop singing his praises, appreciating how tech-savvy VP could be a real boon for the party. Delian Asparouhov couldn’t contain his excitement, calling it a dream come true for the tech industry. Even big shots like Elon Musk, David Sacks, and Chamath Palihapitiya are riding the JD Vance hype train. A VP who gets tech? Now that’s an ace in the hole for conservatives.
Despite this digital lovefest, Vance isn’t handing out free passes. He’s not afraid to call out Big Tech, supporting tariffs, and even aligning with Biden administration’s Lina Khan on cracking down against tech monopolies. Even captains of industry will have to earn their keep. As Vance prepares to possibly join forces with Trump next January, it will be fascinating to see how this Silicon Valley nationalist will navigate his old and new territories. Put on those seatbelts; it’s going to be a wild ride!
