Billionaire donor Ben Horowitz ditching Trump for Harris likened to 'rats deserting sinking ship'

Venture capitalist shares his endorsement of Harris after earlier backing Trump just ahead of 2024 election
PUBLISHED OCT 5, 2024
Ben Horowitz switches from supporting Donald Trump to Kamala Harris a month ahead of the 2024 election (Getty Images)
Ben Horowitz switches from supporting Donald Trump to Kamala Harris a month ahead of the 2024 election (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Billionaire venture capitalist Ben Horowitz and his wife Felicia announced their endorsement of the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, on Friday, October 4, reported Axios. The couple also shared their intention to make a "significant" personal donation to her campaign.

The action becomes particularly significant as Horowitz and his Silicon Valley business partner Marc Andreessen previously endorsed and donated to GOP nominee and former president Donald Trump for the November election, calling him the best candidate for technology start-ups.

At the time, incumbent Joe Biden was considered to be the presumptive Democratic nominee. He suspended his reelection campaign in July and endorsed Harris in his stead.

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 2: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally on March 2,
GOP nominee Donald Trump enjoyed the support of Ben Horowitz earlier in 2024 (Getty Images)

The announcement made by Ben Horowitz

Ben Horowitz announced jumping ship to his employees at Andreessen Horowitz in an email, where he shared that Harris has been "a great friend" of his and his wife for over a decade.

While he maintained that the Biden administration has been "exceptionally destructive on tech policy across the industry," he claimed to have felt "encouraged" by conversations with the vice president.

DETROIT, MI - OCTOBER 25: Democratic U.S. Vice Presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) speaks
Ben Horowitz announced he would be supporting his long-time friend Kamala Harris in the upcoming election (Getty Images)

"As a result of our friendship, Felicia and I will be making a significant donation to entities who support the Harris Walz campaign," read the email.

"From a firm perspective, we continue to only take positions consistent with our Little Tech Agenda and how the various candidates that support or don't support policies to build a strong startup technology industry," it continued.

"Although I have had several conversations with Vice President Harris and her team on their likely tech policies and am encouraged by my belief in her, they have not yet stated what their tech policy will be, so the firm will not be updating its position in that regard."

Internet trolls Ben Horowitz for wavering in his support

Netizens reacting to the news on the social media platform X mocked Horowitz for deciding to back Harris instead of Trump weeks ahead of the general election. The following tweets demonstrate their takes.

"The rats are first to desert a sinking ship," wrote a user.



 

"Whew. Before the buzzer," quipped another.



 

"Now you get to see who can tell which way the wind blows," stated a third.



 

"Seems sus," shared a fourth.



 

"Just means he's transactional and is dumping the expected loser. Harris will take the money though, thanks buddy," noted a fifth user.



 

"How about morals... for the love of money," expressed a sixth.



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Trump details outlook for reopening key shipping lane amid oil volatility
1 hour ago
White House moves social programs to states as Trump cites wartime budget strain
1 hour ago
President Trump signaled focus on Democratic-led states, naming California and New York as priorities for reviewing federal spending practices
3 hours ago
Laura Loomer highlighted Pam Bondi's key accomplishments as attorney general but said she failed to meet 'all of President Trump’s expectations'
10 hours ago
Karoline Leavitt admitted she frequently stays up late doomscrolling through news outlets, trying to stay ahead of breaking stories and narratives
10 hours ago
AOC accused the DOJ of continuing to withhold key Epstein-related documents from the public, calling it a potential violation of the law
11 hours ago
'I do believe that President Trump is showing the kind of leadership that we’ve been without for a long time,' Darrell Issa said
11 hours ago
Mary Trump claims loyalty, not performance, drove Bondi’s firing, highlighting Trump’s focus on political protection
11 hours ago
Mirroring Trump’s Springsteen post, Newsom mocked Kid Rock and urged Democrats to boycott his concerts
11 hours ago
Donald Trump also called Iran 'very tough' for resisting pressure during negotiations aimed at ending the conflict
11 hours ago