U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) is nominated as the candidate for Vice President on the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Leon Neal/Getty Images
Republican Party presidential candidate Donald Trump announced on the first day of the Republican National Convention Monday (July 15) that he has chosen first-term Ohio senator JD Vance as his vice-presidential running mate, triggering reactions from business executives across multiple sectors.
It could be recalled that Trump survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally over the weekend, which left him with a bullet wound to his ear.
PayPal Mafia Congratulates Trump-Vance Ticket
Business Insider reported that several big tech bosses such as Elon Musk and Peter Thiel were among the first executives to congratulate the GOP ticket.
It is understood that some of them, including Musk and Thiel, were part of the "PayPal Mafia," a group of the company's founders
In a tweet, Musk, a PayPal co-founder before becoming CEO of Tesla, said that the duo "resounds with victory."
On the other hand, Thiel, the founding CEO of the company, has been known for becoming a kingmaker in both the tech industry and in American politics.
Meanwhile, Craft Ventures general partner and former Yammer CEO David Sacks, another member of the "PayPal Mafia," said on X, formerly Twitter, that Vance, who served in the US Marine Corps post-9/11 and later became a venture capitalist prior to entering politics, is the best pick for Trump as he both has "the courage to fight America's wars" and the "wisdom" to know which wars to avoid.
When the Twin Towers came down, JD Vance enlisted in the Marine Corps, gung-ho to exact justice on America’s enemies. Subsequently he came to believe the Forever Wars were a mistake. This is who I want by Trump’s side: an American patriot, with the courage to fight America’s wars…
Other Business Leaders Disappointed with Vance as Trump's VP Pick
However, there are also business bosses who have reservations about Vance riding on Trump's ticket at best.
Two people with close connections to billionaire hedge fund manager and top Republican donor Ken Griffin told the Washington Post, on the condition of anonymity, that, while there were "many good choices" for vice-presidential running mate, he nevertheless appreciated Trump and his team's "thoughtful deliberation" on the matter.
NOTUS also revealed that media mogul Rupert Murdoch preferred North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum over Vance as Trump's vice-presidential candidate and has been pushing for an "anyone but JD" nomination, referring to Vance's first name initials.
It is also understood that Florida senator Marco Rubio was also considered as Trump's running mate. However, both he and Burgum expressed support for Vance upon learning of the pick.
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