Key Takeaways
- • Last month, J.D. Vance held a fund-raiser in San Francisco for Donald Trump at David Sacks's Pacific Heights mansion, followed by a $300,000-per-person dinner with roughly two dozen tech and crypto executives and investors, according to The New York Times.
- • Tech investors David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, seated beside Trump at the dinner, and others reportedly all urged Trump to choose Vance as his running mate, according to two people with knowledge of the exchange.
- • Vance spent less than five years in Silicon Valley, working as a junior venture capitalist at a Peter Thiel-linked investment firm and as a biotech executive, a period that forged connections with Thiel, Sacks and Elon Musk.
- • Per the Times, these billionaire backers have repeatedly funded Vance's political ambitions, raised his profile with wealthy donors and on social media, and lobbied Trump for his selection.
- • Publisher reporting indicates Sacks donated $1 million to a political action committee backing Vance's run.
Summary
J.D. Vance flew to San Francisco last month to headline a fund-raiser for Donald J. Trump and then host a private dinner with about two dozen tech and crypto executives and investors. The event took place at the Pacific Heights mansion of David Sacks, an entrepreneur and podcaster whom Vance had met through venture investor Peter Thiel. The New York Times reports that the dinner cost $300,000 per person.
During the dinner, Trump, seated between Sacks and investor Chamath Palihapitiya, informally polled the room on his running mate. According to two people with knowledge of the exchange, Sacks, Palihapitiya and others all recommended Vance, even though North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, another vice-presidential hopeful, was in attendance. Trump later selected Vance, the Ohio senator, as his running mate.
Vance spent less than five years in Silicon Valley's technology industry, working as a junior venture capitalist and as a biotech executive. The Times characterizes that period as formative, forging relationships with billionaires including Thiel, Sacks and Elon Musk, who owns X. According to the Times, these figures have repeatedly funded Vance's political ambitions, elevated his profile among wealthy donors and on social media, and lobbied Trump to choose him. Publisher coverage adds that Sacks donated $1 million to a political action committee supporting Vance's campaign.
During the dinner, Trump, seated between Sacks and investor Chamath Palihapitiya, informally polled the room on his running mate. According to two people with knowledge of the exchange, Sacks, Palihapitiya and others all recommended Vance, even though North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, another vice-presidential hopeful, was in attendance. Trump later selected Vance, the Ohio senator, as his running mate.
Vance spent less than five years in Silicon Valley's technology industry, working as a junior venture capitalist and as a biotech executive. The Times characterizes that period as formative, forging relationships with billionaires including Thiel, Sacks and Elon Musk, who owns X. According to the Times, these figures have repeatedly funded Vance's political ambitions, elevated his profile among wealthy donors and on social media, and lobbied Trump to choose him. Publisher coverage adds that Sacks donated $1 million to a political action committee supporting Vance's campaign.
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