US Presidential Election 2016: Silicon Valley really, really doesn’t want Donald Trump to take the White House
Silicon Valley tech executives have set aside competing for the world's next big invention and united in one common cause: to stop Donald Trump becoming president.
Nearly 150 executives, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar signed the letter to Trump laying out why they don't support him.
His presidency, they say, would be a "disaster for innovation".
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"We believe in an inclusive country that fosters opportunity, creativity and a level playing field. Donald Trump does not. He campaigns on anger, bigotry, fear of new ideas and new people, and a fundamental belief that America is weak and in decline. We have listened to Donald Trump over the past year and we have concluded: Trump would be a disaster for innovation," they wrote.
"His vision stands against the open exchange of ideas, free movement of people, and productive engagement with the outside world that is critical to our economy — and that provide the foundation for innovation and growth."
They allude there, of course, to Trump's pledge for a wall on the Mexican border. Which, of course, the Mexicans will foot the bill for – he says.
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The tech elite continue: "We also believe in the free and open exchange of ideas, including over the Internet, as a seed from which innovation springs. Donald Trump proposes “shutting down” parts of the Internet as a security strategy — demonstrating both poor judgment and ignorance about how technology works. His penchant to censor extends to revoking press credentials and threatening to punish media platforms that criticize him."
Finally, we believe that government plays an important role in the technology economy by investing in infrastructure, education and scientific research. Donald Trump articulates few policies beyond erratic and contradictory pronouncements.
His reckless disregard for our legal and political institutions threatens to upend what attracts companies to start and scale in America. He risks distorting markets, reducing exports, and slowing job creation.
"We stand against Donald Trump’s divisive candidacy and want a candidate who embraces the ideals that built America’s technology industry: freedom of expression, openness to newcomers, equality of opportunity , public investments in research and infrastructure, and respect for the rule of law. We embrace an optimistic vision for a more inclusive country, where American innovation continues to fuel opportunity, prosperity and leadership."
The letter doesn't mention rival Hillary Clinton, but by process of elimination essentially endorses her candidacy.
PayPal founder Peter Thiel appears the only exception to the rule, having backed Trump.