Richard Parks Tech industry leaders responded to Donald Trump’s election win with a range of reactions, from celebration to cautious calls for unity and action.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, praised Trump’s victory on social media, saying the American people had delivered a “crystal clear mandate for change.” Musk, a prominent Trump supporter and significant campaign donor, contributed nearly $75 million through his super PAC, America PAC.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg congratulated Trump on his “decisive victory” and expressed optimism about opportunities for the U.S., despite previous disagreements with Trump, including a two-year ban on his account after January 6. Apple’s Tim Cook and Google’s parent company CEO, Sundar Pichai, echoed positive sentiments, with Cook expressing his hope for continued American innovation and Pichai calling it the start of a “golden age” in U.S. tech.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos described Trump’s victory as an “extraordinary comeback” and emphasized the many opportunities for the nation ahead. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also voiced their support, looking forward to advancing American technology and AI under Trump’s administration.
Other industry leaders, however, were more reserved. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, a supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris, acknowledged Trump’s win but called for unity, urging Americans to come together to strengthen the country.
Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, expressed disappointment, calling the outcome “discouraging.” She reaffirmed her commitment to advocacy and equity for all Americans, emphasizing that “nothing ends here.” Similarly, former Twitter executive Katie Stanton shared her view that “America has a lot of work to do,” and encouraged Americans to unite and focus on building a better future.
These reactions reveal the tech sector’s varied responses to Trump’s victory, highlighting a mix of support, cautious optimism, and a call for unity as the country moves forward.