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How is the Rise of the U.S. “Tech Right” Shaping Washington?

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Mark Zuckerberg and Donald Trump

Sources reveal that Meta CEO Zuckerberg visited Florida on January 10 to meet with U.S. President-elect Trump. Prior to this, several major American tech executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, had already traveled to Mar-a-Lago to court Trump. However, these tech giants’ recent moves to improve their relationship with Trump appear somewhat delayed. As early as before the U.S. presidential election last year, some Silicon Valley elites had already “placed their bets” on the Republican Party, rallying support to win over voters. This group has been dubbed the “Tech Right” by some media. Whether it’s the U.S. tech magnates or the “Tech Right,” their involvement in politics is deepening. Starting today, the Latest.com will publish a series of reports titled “The Impact of ‘Tech Politics’ in the U.S.,” delving into the rise of the “Tech Right” and how Silicon Valley’s increasing political engagement is shaping both the U.S. and the world.

Nominations for Key Roles in the Upcoming Administration

Around the U.S. presidential election, terms like “Tech Right,” “Right-Wing Tech Figures,” or “Silicon Valley Right-Wing Forces” became prominent in Western media coverage. For instance, in October last year, Belgium’s Green European Journal published an article titled “The Tech Right: The Rise of Libertarianism in Silicon Valley,” analyzing the political inclinations of the U.S. “Tech Right.” Following the U.S. election results on November 7, Politico released an article discussing the rise of the “Tech Right.” Other outlets, including Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald and France’s Le Monde, explored similar topics. NBC and investigative news website The Intercept introduced representative figures of the “Tech Right,” while Politico published a piece on December 10 exploring the group’s ambitions to “govern America.”

So, what exactly is the “Tech Right”? According to Green European Journal, the “Tech Right” is comprised of individuals who have derived power from the internet. Motivated by personal wealth and political ideologies, they oppose technological accountability, reject U.S. promotion of “democratic values” abroad, and advocate for selective isolationist policies in Washington. Examples include opposition to U.S. military aid for Ukraine and questioning NATO’s relevance.

Stanford University Business School professor of political economy Neil Malhotra points out that these tech figures are not typically from the seven major tech giants (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Tesla) but instead emerge from the venture capital sector. They have little interest in multiculturalism, are notorious for their ruthless pursuit of intense competition, and, in extreme cases, are willing to upend the existing order for corporate growth.

Peter Thiel: The Core Figure of the “Tech Right”

Western media reports often identify Peter Thiel as the central figure of the U.S. “Tech Right.” Outlets such as Salon describe Thiel as “a ghostly presence in America’s political, media, and cultural realms.” A rare conservative in Silicon Valley, Thiel was an outspoken supporter of Trump in 2016, making him an outlier in the tech industry. His political connections reportedly extend to U.S. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance.

Thiel manages multiple venture capital firms and has funded or established a near-invisible media empire over the past few years. His investments span companies like PayPal, Facebook, and the controversial facial recognition software Clearview AI. He also founded Palantir, a data-mining company accused of aiding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection in tracking and monitoring immigrants through biometric and private databases. Palantir has also been linked to corporate cyberattacks, private espionage, and helping Cambridge Analytica analyze Facebook user data. Beyond that, the company has provided military support to Ukraine and signed “combat technology strategic partnerships” with several nations.

Key Players and Their Rise to Power

Reports by NBC and other media have highlighted several figures within the “Tech Right,” including Palantir advisor and former PayPal executive Keith Rabois’ partner, Jacob Helberg, who Trump has tapped for the role of Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment. Billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman, who collaborated with Elon Musk on space projects, may lead NASA. Jim O’Neill, former CEO of the Thiel Foundation, is being considered for Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, while venture capitalist and Thiel confidant Trae Stephens could become Deputy Secretary of Defense.

Trae Stephens is a founding partner of Thiel’s Founders Fund and co-founder of Anduril, a defense industry company with significant government contracts. Stephens is influential in the intersection of venture capital and defense technology.

Politico and Sydney Morning Herald have also identified prominent figures like Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, co-founders of top venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, as well as longtime Democratic supporter-turned-Republican ally Bill Ackman. According to Fortune, hedge fund billionaire David Sacks is poised to become the White House’s “AI and Cryptocurrency Czar,” while Andreessen argues that regulatory agencies are “stifling American entrepreneurship.”

“Social Darwinists in Technology”

Professor Li Haidong from the China Foreign Affairs University describes the U.S. “Tech Right” as a group within the tech sector adhering to core right-wing ideologies. These ideologies prioritize U.S. exceptionalism, strength, and leadership, underpinned by principles of free competition and survival of the fittest. In other words, the “Tech Right” consists of tech leaders who value liberty over equality, competition over equal opportunity, and U.S. supremacy over diversity. Many of them are social Darwinists, nationalists, and state-centric thinkers.

The rise of the “Tech Right” can be attributed to several factors. According to Green European Journal, this group has found political leaders willing to prioritize issues like artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. The 2024 Republican platform includes plans to ease regulations in these sectors. Additionally, U.S. tech companies are facing increasing global competition, leading venture capitalists to invest more in defense-related industries.

Li believes the “Tech Right” aligns closely with Trump’s “Make America Great Again” vision. This group’s technology and industrial initiatives bolster Trump’s “America First” agenda, while Trump’s policies help ensure the “Tech Right” maintains a dominant position in technology and the broader economy.

Accelerating U.S. Military and Technological Advancements?

In foreign and security policy, the “Tech Right” advocates for selective isolationism, particularly in Europe. According to The Intercept, Peter Thiel has criticized U.S. tax dollars being spent on “distant wars” and opposes Middle Eastern interventions. However, he supports companies that design and supply weapons for such conflicts.

Regarding China, the “Tech Right” presents a divided stance. While many advocate a confrontational approach, some do not support antagonism. Jacob Helberg, a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, has played a key role in stoking anti-China sentiment in Congress and pushing legislation to ban TikTok.

Li highlights that the influence of the “Tech Right” on the next U.S. administration could have significant global repercussions. The group’s focus on reshaping international order through technological dominance may make the U.S. a destabilizing force in global governance.

Elon Musk, also considered a “Tech Right” representative by some media, is expected to play a key role in Trump’s plan to enhance government efficiency. Musk has suggested focusing defense budgets on cost-effective AI-driven unmanned drones, which could disrupt the dominance of traditional defense contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Li concludes that under the influence of the “Tech Right,” the U.S. is likely to accelerate military technological advancements, increasing the country’s propensity to rely on force in international affairs.

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