Vance Issues Warning To Billionaire Donor

J.D. Vance is urging his former boss and tech mogul Peter Thiel to step up and lend his support to the GOP in this critical election year. Vance, who previously ran alongside former President Donald Trump, shared these sentiments during a recent interview with the Financial Times.

Vance emphasized that Thiel, who has previously expressed some disillusionment with politics, needs to recognize the gravity of the current political landscape. He said, “I plan to keep engaging with Peter and making the case for why it’s vital for him to get involved. While he’s understandably been somewhat disenchanted with the political process, I assure you, his disillusionment will only grow if we face a loss and see Kamala Harris in the White House.”

According to Vance, Thiel’s core values align with conservative principles, and it’s time for him to re-engage and support the Republican ticket. “Peter is a fundamentally conservative individual, and his support is crucial now more than ever,” Vance asserted.

Peter Thiel, known for co-founding PayPal and Palantir, has been a significant donor in the past, including backing Trump’s 2016 campaign and supporting Vance’s successful Senate bid in 2022. However, Thiel has been notably reserved about his political contributions this year. He previously indicated he would refrain from donating to Republicans in 2024, as reported by The Atlantic. Thiel remarked, “There’s always a chance I might change my mind. But by discussing it publicly, it complicates that possibility.”

Despite Thiel’s reluctance, the Trump campaign has seen a notable surge in support from Silicon Valley figures this election cycle. Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently hosted a livestream event with Trump on his platform X, while venture capitalist David Sacks organized a highly successful fundraiser in San Francisco, raising $12 million. Additionally, crypto investors Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss contributed $1 million each in bitcoin to the Trump campaign, highlighting the shifting dynamics in political endorsements this year.