- Andreessen Horowitz co-founders endorse Trump for 2024.
- They cite Trump’s tech-friendly policies on AI and crypto.
- Biden’s proposed capital gains tax threatens startup ecosystem, they argue.
Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz, co-founders of the prominent venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), have announced their support for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential race.
Andreessen, a lifelong Democrat who previously supported candidates from Clinton to Obama, cites Trump’s tech-friendly policies as the primary reason for his shift.
AI and Crypto in the crosshairs
The a16z duo argues that the Biden administration’s approach to regulating artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency could stifle innovation.
They praise Trump’s stance on AI, quoting him: “AI is very scary, but we absolutely have to win because if we don’t win, China wins.” Andreessen also lauds Trump’s “flat-out blanket endorsement” of the entire crypto space.
The capital gains conundrum
The “final straw” for Andreessen is Biden’s proposed tax on unrealized capital gains. He argues this would make startups “completely implausible” by forcing venture firms to pay taxes on paper valuations, potentially crippling the startup ecosystem.
The a16z co-founders believe this policy, among others, threatens America’s technological edge—a crucial component of the country’s global dominance alongside economic and military might.
