US tech and business leaders, including Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale, venture capitalist Doug Leone and the Winklevoss twins, have donated to a new super political action committee backing Donald Trump’s presidential bid.
America Pac has raised more than $8.7 million since its launch in June, including $1 million from Silicon Valley investors who have publicly backed Trump in recent weeks.
Donors include Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire and Valor Equity Partners founder Antonio Gracias, as well as Sequoia Capital co-founders Leone and Lonsdale of 8VC and Palantir.
The Financial Times quoted a person with direct knowledge of the super pac as saying that Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and X, is also planning to donate. Musk is a close business associate of several of the donors, including Lonsdale.
Coal giant Joe Craft, CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, and Jimmy John Liautaud, founder of the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain, also donated $1 million, while Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss each gave $250,000.
Musk also considering Super Pac donation
Silicon Valley has long been considered one of the most liberal regions in the US, but some tech leaders, unhappy with President Joe Biden’s stance on regulation and taxes, are moving to the right politically.
Trump has also appealed to libertarian-leaning entrepreneurs and venture capitalists with promises to protect free speech and support the cryptocurrency industry.
Musk formally announced his support for Trump shortly after Trump’s attack at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday. Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman also officially endorsed Trump on Saturday.
Musk also called Trump’s choice of Senator JD Vance, a former venture capitalist, as his running mate “excellent” on Monday.
Musk wrote on X: “Trump-Vance. Resounding victory,” he wrote. Musk has previously supported Democrats including Biden, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Tech and venture capital giants warm to Trump
Some prominent Silicon Valley figures are becoming increasingly active in supporting the Trump campaign.
Venture capitalist David Sacks, who hosted a fundraiser at his San Francisco home last month where Vance introduced Trump, spoke at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee on Monday.
Keith Rabois, managing director of Khosla Ventures, told the FT that he too would donate $1 million to support Trump.
