Peter Thiel reluctantly supports Trump for president under duress

In a surprising turn of events, billionaire Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel has announced his intention to vote for former President Donald Trump in the upcoming 2024 election, despite their tumultuous history. Thiel, who was a vocal supporter of Trump in 2016, had a falling out with the former president after declining to endorse him when asked. Despite this, Thiel has been a significant financial backer of Trump and other Republican candidates, with a notable success rate in their elections. However, in a recent interview with the Atlantic, Thiel expressed criticism of Trump's presidency, citing concerns about the government's functionality and the administration's failure to meet his expectations. Thiel's dissatisfaction with the Republican Party's direction since late 2022 has been evident, particularly his disapproval of the party's focus on divisive social issues rather than promoting innovation through deregulation and global competition. At the 2016 Republican National Convention, Thiel emphasized the importance of economic issues over cultural conflicts, urging the party to prioritize addressing the country's economic decline. Despite his reservations about Trump, Thiel remains steadfast in his belief that the former president is the more honest candidate when it comes to acknowledging economic challenges, as opposed to his opponents. During a conversation at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Thiel reiterated his decision to vote for Trump in 2024, albeit reluctantly and without providing financial support to the campaign. Thiel's previous financial contributions to Trump's 2016 campaign, totaling $1.25 million, marked a departure from the tech industry's predominantly Democratic support. While Thiel's stance on funding political candidates for the 2024 election has shifted, his endorsement of Trump over President Joe Biden underscores his preference for the former president's policies and approach to economic issues. Despite his past support for Trump and involvement in tech industry ventures like Facebook and Palantir, Thiel's evolving relationship with the former president reflects a broader disillusionment with the political landscape. His decision to back Trump in the upcoming election, despite reservations and a shift away from funding political campaigns, highlights the complexities of his political stance and the ongoing debate within the Republican Party over its priorities and future direction.