George Packer says tech venture capitalists aligned with Trump and influenced policy
Updated
Updated · NPR · May 6
George Packer says tech venture capitalists aligned with Trump and influenced policy
3 articles · Updated · NPR · May 6
Packer says Silicon Valley investors with major AI and cryptocurrency stakes benefited by backing the MAGA movement and shaping policies tied to their portfolios.
The report frames the relationship as politically strategic, with venture capitalists gaining influence over regulation and government decisions affecting emerging technologies and digital assets.
It highlights the rise of a new tech right in Silicon Valley, where ideological alignment with Trump is linked to business interests and policy outcomes.
When tech leaders advise the government while holding company stock, how are conflicts of interest managed to protect public trust?
Is a 'light-touch' federal approach enough to manage risks like AI weapons and deepfakes fueled by billions in private funding?
As federal AI policy centralizes, what happens to the 175+ AI safety laws already enacted by individual states?
From AI Czar to PCAST Advisor: David Sacks, Tech Influence, and the MAGA Coalition Strain in 2026
Overview
David Sacks stepped down as White House AI and Crypto Czar in March 2026 due to term limits but immediately became co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, broadening his influence across critical tech fields. While this shift reduced his direct policy power, Sacks maintained significant sway through his venture capital firm, Craft Ventures, which holds major investments in AI and cryptocurrency. His advocacy helped shape key policies like reversing AI chip export bans to China and promoting the BITCOIN Act, raising ongoing conflict of interest concerns. Meanwhile, the alliance between tech elites and the MAGA movement is straining, as populist supporters grow wary of perceived plutocratic agendas amid economic worries. Despite this, Sacks and other tech insiders continue to hold strong advisory roles, embedding Silicon Valley’s priorities deeply within federal technology policy.