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.

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