Reid Hoffman Urges Silicon Valley to Take a Stand Against the Trump Administration

Reid Hoffman certainly believes in going all in. He co-founded LinkedIn, of course, and provided early funding for companies like Meta and Airbnb. Additionally, through his books, podcasts, and public engagements, he has positioned himself as a public intellectual—advocating for capitalism while maintaining that technology can indeed serve as a force for good.

Most recently, Hoffman has become one of Silicon Valley’s leading proponents of artificial intelligence. His upcoming book, 2025’s Superagency, argues that AI will not reduce human potential but rather enhance it. In our discussion for this week’s episode of The Big Interview, Hoffman enthusiastically shared his thoughts on AI’s applications for virtually anything, whether you need a research assistant or a second opinion on medical matters. He even used AI to create one of the most unconventional—and perhaps awkward, depending on how you view AI-generated creativity—holiday gifts I’ve heard of lately. (And no, he didn’t give me one.)

Regardless of your opinion on Hoffman’s idealistic views about AI, it’s worth noting that he’s a vocal critic of President Trump—a rarity in a tech landscape that has often stayed silent, or even cozy, in the face of the US administration’s challenges. His outspoken political stance hasn’t come without repercussions: Trump has threatened to investigate him twice, most recently asking Attorney General Pam Bondi to probe Hoffman’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein. (In 2019, Hoffman expressed regret for his relationship with Epstein in the mid-2010s, which he claims was solely about fundraising for MIT. He has since called for the government to release all Epstein-related documents.)

Despite these threats, Hoffman remains undeterred: When we recorded this episode in mid-December, he was quick to criticize the administration for undermining American governance, called out his peers for staying quiet, and urged Silicon Valley to stop acting as though neutrality is a commendable stance. If only more billionaires would speak up.