‘Heuksujeo’ Pence Vice Presidential Nominee... Behind the Scenes is Silicon Valley 'Big Player'

According to a report by The Washington Post (WP) on the 28th (local time), behind the rise of Senator J.D. Vance, who comes from a 'dirt spoon' background, as the Republican Party's vice presidential candidate in the United States, were conservative 'big players' from Silicon Valley.

WP cited sources saying, "There is a small group within Silicon Valley quietly exerting pressure behind the scenes to ensure Vance is nominated as the vice presidential candidate," identifying tech entrepreneur David Sacks, venture capitalist Peter Thiel, and Jacob Helberg as the key figures behind this. Notably, Sacks and Thiel were early members who led PayPal alongside Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO, and have since wielded significant influence in the industry, earning the nickname 'PayPal Mafia' from foreign media.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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WP reported, "They quietly prepared the 'Make Vance Vice President' project weeks before the Republican vice presidential candidate was announced," adding, "Former President Trump received multiple calls from them urging him to nominate Vance as the vice presidential candidate." They also explained, "They view Vance as their envoy to represent their interests in the White House," and "While the government and traditional large corporations suppress innovation, Silicon Valley's agile and bold startups are spreading the doctrine that they benefit the nation."

Vance, who hails from the 'Rust Belt'?a declining industrial region?is known as a rare figure in Trump's camp with strong connections to Silicon Valley. In particular, Peter Thiel is regarded as an employer and mentor who recognized Vance's talent from the time he entered the venture industry and has provided unwavering support both materially and morally. Thiel has also proven his insight through early investments in Mark Zuckerberg, former CEO of Meta, and Sam Altman of OpenAI. One source described, "For Peter, Vance is a generational bet."

From former President Trump's perspective, accepting their demands was not a bad choice, according to insiders. In fact, conservative venture entrepreneurs including Peter Thiel funded Trump's 2016 presidential campaign but were reportedly greatly disappointed by his administration's indifference to science and innovation policies and the 2021 Capitol riot. Restoring the strained relationship with them was also a consideration for Trump when deciding on his running mate, the sources said.

WP noted, "Peter Thiel served as a strong financial backer not only when Vance gained attention with his autobiography 'Hillbilly Elegy' and entered politics but also during his 2022 Senate run," and predicted that if former President Trump returns to the White House, the backing forces including Peter Thiel will wield considerable influence. Investor Del Johnson expressed concern about collusion between politics and business, saying, "If venture investors are allowed to approach the president, one can only imagine what might happen."

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