Mapping Trump's connections to a powerful group of right-wing tech barons
www.nbcnews.com
President-elect Donald Trump has surrounded himself with an interconnected group of tech barons.

Summary

Donald Trump’s second term is poised to feature significant influence from a network of right-wing tech figures, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, and David Sacks, many linked to the “PayPal Mafia.”

These allies bring a focus on deregulation, cryptocurrency, artificial intelligence, and military technology, with numerous appointments in key federal roles.

Critics highlight their ties to venture capital, skepticism of institutions, and profit motives, while proponents see them as champions of innovation.

Questions remain about their impact, given part-time roles and the limits of Trump’s ability to implement radical tech policies.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    19·
    1 year ago

    Can you imagine how often these guys have to simplify what they’re talking about to get through to him? Musk is a moron too, but Thiel? Sacks? Not at all. And even Musk can at least, in general, understand the terminology when they talk about it.

    Imagine trying to explain crypto or LLMs to Trump…

    • Voroxpete@sh.itjust.works
      14·
      1 year ago

      Eh, it’s not like Thiel or Sacks are great minds of our time either. I’d be willing to bet the way those guys talk about the tech they’re obsessed with would make anyone with actual knowledge of it cringe.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        6·
        1 year ago

        And yet they would still have to severely dumb it down for Trump. Constantly. In fact, they would probably have to explain it to him all over again the next day.

  • Jakeroxs@sh.itjust.works
    12·
    1 year ago

    I find it pretty funny how not too long ago the Republicans (including Trump) were so anti-big tech, and now they’re extremely buddy buddy. You’d think the republican constituency would see the obvious shift and come to the realization that the only thing that changed is these big tech giants are now paying trump… But of course not lol

    • stringere@sh.itjust.works
      3·
      1 year ago

      They’ve been clued in to how big tech can secure their power through mass media manipulation, identity tracking, surveillance, etc.
      They hated it until they saw how it could benefit THEM. Common conservative MO: does not help me/helps others = bad, helps me = good.