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Major Donations Boost Pro-Trump Super PAC ‘Right for America’
Recent filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) have unveiled that the pro-Trump super PAC, “Right for America,” has garnered significant financial backing from prominent business figures. Among the notable contributors are venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, who each contributed $2.5 million to the PAC, as evidenced by the documents.
According to the PAC’s official website, its mission is centered on ensuring the electoral success of Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 presidential race. Andreessen and Horowitz publicly declared their support for Trump during a July episode of their podcast, “The Ben & Marc Show.” During this discussion, Andreessen cited President Biden’s proposal for taxing unrealized capital gains as a pivotal reason for his shift in endorsement.
He expressed concern that such taxation would discourage entrepreneurship, questioning why individuals would choose to start their ventures when they could pursue stable positions at established companies like Google. “This makes startups completely implausible,” he noted.
On the other hand, Horowitz indicated in a memo earlier this month that he and his wife planned to make a substantial contribution to support Kamala Harris’s campaign. While he did not formally endorse Harris, he acknowledged their friendship, emphasizing her positive influence in his life.
During the same July podcast, Horowitz recounted a dinner meeting with Trump, where they exchanged views on varying topics such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency. He expressed confidence in Trump’s suitability for “Little Tech,” humorously adding, “And sorry, Mom. I know you’re going to be mad at me for this, but we had to do it.”
Shifts in Political Support Among Silicon Valley Figures
The financial support from Andreessen and Horowitz represents a notable realignment among some high-profile figures in Silicon Valley, many of whom have previously endorsed Democratic candidates. This trend also includes Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has openly supported Trump following a personal incident that occurred in July.
Musk has established his own PAC, “America PAC,” which has reportedly dedicated over $100 million to the Trump campaign. Recent filings reveal that Musk contributed nearly $75 million to this initiative from July through September.
Andreessen, historically an advocate for Democratic candidates, notably backed Barack Obama in 2008 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, making his current support for Trump particularly striking. Additionally, the “Right for America” PAC has seen contributions from other influential donors, including Isaac Perlmutter, the former chair of Marvel Entertainment, who, alongside his wife Laura, each donated $2.45 million. Apollo Global Management’s CEO, Marc Rowan, added $1 million to the PAC.
As of now, representatives from Andreessen Horowitz and the “Right for America” PAC have not issued any comments regarding these developments.
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