The 2024 US Presidential Election is getting a lot of attention in Silicon Valley.
In the 2020 cycle, tech companies and their bosses were busy doing everything to avoid the spread of misinformation like the one in 2016.
The new campaign promises to be different. Tech stars want to play an important role this time around. They want to be proactive. They simply want to crown a winner.
In November, well before the race for the nominations began, the most powerful of all CEOs, Elon Musk, announced that he would support the Republican governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, for the presidency. DeSantis is seen as the biggest threat to former President Donald Trump regarding the Republican nomination.
Trump is currently the frontrunner in all opinion polls, ahead of at least 30 points over DeSantis, who relied on Musk to announce his candidacy for the presidency. On May 24, the billionaire interviewed the presidential candidate on Twitter, and introduced him to his 142 million followers.
Although the interview, which was more like a friendly chat, was disrupted by technical issues, it enabled DeSantis to align his culture war with that of Musk, the Tesla CEO. (TSLA) – Get a free reportwho for several months has been denouncing what he calls the virus of the awakened mind: progressive politics.
Musk promised to use his influence — and $20 million to $25 million of his wealth — on behalf of his nominee.
“Can and Will”: Dorsey on RFK Jr. Opportunities
In the Republican camp is Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle (ORCL) – Get a free reportShe endorses Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina).
CNBC reported that Ellison, the fifth richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $116 billion as of June 4, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, plans to spend up to $60 million to help Scott. The 78-year-old billionaire was present when Scott announced his candidacy on May 22 at his alma mater, Charleston Southern University.
Another tech billionaire is now entering the campaign — but on the side of the Democrats: Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey. Dorsey, who is CEO of the financial payment services company Block (mint) – Get a free reportSupports Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 69, is one of the few Democratic Party candidates to challenge President Joe Biden, 80, for the nomination in next year’s primary campaign.
The 46-year-old billionaire on June 4 posted a link to an interview with Kennedy, in which he claimed he could defeat both Trump and DeSantis in the general election: “He can and he will.” Kennedy addresses the issue of whether he is a candidate for election. That question could deter many Democratic voters from supporting him, even if they also have reservations about Biden.
Dorsey’s positive tweet towards the scion of the Democrats’ most prominent family prompted many comments from Twitter users. Some users asked the serial entrepreneur an obvious question.
“Do you support or just expect?” one Twitter user asked.
He replied, “Both.”
Musk will give an interview with Kennedy
The billionaire also wanted to be positive when he pointed out that the Democratic Party apparatus could handicap his candidate.
“There’s no chance the DNC will let him run,” said one Twitter user, referring to the Democratic National Committee.
“More reason,” Dorsey replied.
“The DNC wouldn’t allow that, are you kidding??” Another Twitter user scoffed.
“Right, but they seem irrelevant day in and day out,” Dorsey said.
RFK Jr. announced his presidential candidacy on April 19. He is the son of former US Attorney General Robert Kennedy, who was a presidential candidate who was assassinated in 1968. RFK Jr. is also the nephew of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was assassinated. Five years before his brother.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a lawyer specializing in environmental issues, has been known since 2005 for spreading conspiracy theories about vaccines, in particular linking autism to one of their components.
Kennedy has a following among conspiracy theory fans on the right. While he supports abortion rights and gun control, his anti-vaccine stances endear him to right-wing media where he is often called upon.
He’ll have an even bigger platform on Monday, June 5, when Musk is scheduled to meet him via live audio on Twitter, known as Twitter Spaces, at 2pm EST. This will make Kennedy the second presidential candidate, after DeSantis, to campaign directly on the podium in an interview with Musk.
Dorsey welcomed the interview, calling the initiative “excellent”.
Dorsey, like Musk, says Biden is too big to run. He called on Democrats to promote a new generation of leaders for 2024.
Opinion polls show that the advanced age of the current Democratic president worries many voters. Biden and his entourage reiterate that he is in good shape for a second term.
The octogenarian stumbled onto stage June 1 during a military ceremony in Colorado. This slight fall fueled speculation about his advanced age.
On June 1, Dorsey posted a video titled The Downfall of Biden: “Open the Democratic Primaries and Debates.” “It’s not fair to anyone.”