• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Leadership

Silicon Valley Is Panicking About a Donald Trump Presidency

Robert Hackett
By
Robert Hackett
Robert Hackett
Down Arrow Button Icon
November 9, 2016, 12:41 AM ET
GOP Nominee Donald Trump Casts His Vote In The 2016 Presidential Election
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 8: Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump departs after voting at the Beckman Hill International School in New York City. After a contentious campaign season, Americans go to the polls today to choose the next president of the United States. (Photo by Aaron P. Bernstein/Getty Images)Aaron P. Bernstein—Getty Images

As the 2016 presidential election nears its close, Republican candidate Donald Trump’s claim on the White House is looking likelier and likelier.

With the notable exception of Peter Thiel, the contrarian billionaire investor and cofounder of PayPal (PYPL), Silicon Valley luminaries have mostly rallied behind Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, whose odds look gloomier by the minute.

A number of leaders in the tech industry took to Twitter to lament the occasion on Tuesday night.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

“i’d like to wake up now please,” commented Sam Altman, who heads the startup accelerator Y Combinator and who has endorsed Clinton. “i’ve never felt as alone in a room full of people as i do right now.”

i'd like to wake up now please

— Sam Altman (@sama) November 9, 2016

i've never felt as alone in a room full of people as i do right now

— Sam Altman (@sama) November 9, 2016

“Losing this election doesn’t mean giving up,” said Paul Graham, founder of Y Combinator and a business partner of Altman.

Losing the election doesn't mean giving up.

— Paul Graham (@paulg) November 9, 2016

Chris Sacca, a prominent venture capitalist and Twitter (TWTR) investor, cited a quote often attributed to former U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. “America will never be destroyed from the outside,” Sacca wrote. “If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. -Lincoln”

https://twitter.com/sacca/status/796201301214314496

Kimberly Bryant, founder of the non-profit organization Black Girls Code, posted a GIF of actor Nicholas Cage looking disraught. “Y’all I just don’t even know right now,” she said. “I need a cocktail. #ElectionNight“

Y'all I just don't even know right now. I need a cocktail. #ElectionNight pic.twitter.com/fvKWKALdQN

— Kimberly Bryant (@6Gems) November 9, 2016

Nathan Jurgenson, a social media theorist at the messaging firm Snap (née Snapchat), speculated about how the current regime in the White House might be reacting to the news.

“how many american nuclear weapons can we disarm in a couple months,” Jurgenson wrote. “cant help but imaging the damage the supreme court is going to do over the next decade,” he added.

how many american nuclear weapons can we disarm in a couple months

— nathanjurgenson (@nathanjurgenson) November 9, 2016

“Is this what it felt like when people first realized hitler could actually take power?” asked Mark Pincus, the chairman and founder of gaming company Zynga.

https://twitter.com/markpinc/status/796182209140899841

Dennis Crowley, founder of the social app FourSquare, pointed to a comment made on Comedy Central’s satirical news program The Daily Show. “This is not the country I hoped it was – it is more divided, more sexist, more racist than I thought it was”

He added: “This sums up exactly how I feel right now. And my emotions are amplified by having a 6mo old daughter. And even tho it’s not over, I’m sad.”

This sums up exactly how I feel right now. And my emotions are amplified by having a 6mo old daughter. And even tho it's not over, I'm sad. https://t.co/KWOp9wMzAI

— Dennis Crowley 🇺🇸 // now on Threads @dens (@dens) November 9, 2016

Reshma Saujani, founder of CEO of non-profit organization Girls Who Code, offered some words of encouragement for the Clinton camp. “This is not over yet!!!! Don’t give up. We can do this! It was always going to be tight! #ElectionNight“

This is not over yet!!!! Don't give up. We can do this! It was always going to be tight! #ElectionNight

— Reshma Saujani (@reshmasaujani) November 9, 2016

Shervin Pishevar, cofounder of the venture capital firm Sherpa Capital and of the startup Hyperloop One, said that he would agitate for his state seceding from the union. “1/ If Trump wins I am announcing and funding a legitimate campaign for California to become its own nation,” he said.

https://twitter.com/shervin/status/796190968735289344

“Peter Thiel turned out not to be contrarian at all,” he added.

Peter Thiel turned out not to be contrarian at all.

— Shervin (@shervin) November 9, 2016

“We are drinking the expensive stuff,” said Stewart Butterfield, CEO of the messaging app Slack and cofounder of the photo-sharing site Flickr.

We are drinking the expensive stuff.

— Stewart Butterfield (@stewart) November 9, 2016

Arlan Hamilton, an investor at the firm Backstage Capital, wrote that”The American Dream has now become the American Nightmare.”

The American Dream has now become the American Nightmare.

— Arlan 👊🏾 (@ArlanWasHere) November 9, 2016

Update 11/9/16: This post has been updated to include more comments sourced from Twitter.

About the Author
Robert Hackett
By Robert Hackett
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Leadership

Future of Workthe future of work
A Walmart employee nearly doubled her pay after entering its pipeline for skilled tradespeople. ‘I was able to move out of my parents’ house’
By Anne D'Innocenzio and The Associated PressDecember 20, 2025
7 hours ago
Successspace
Paraplegic engineer becomes the first wheelchair user to blast into space — laughing all the up, while on board a Blue Origin rocket
By Marcia Dunn and The Associated PressDecember 20, 2025
7 hours ago
Scott Anthony
Future of WorkColleges and Universities
‘They’ll lose their humanity’: Dartmouth professor says he’s surprised just how scared his Gen Z students are of AI
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 20, 2025
17 hours ago
Future of WorkGen Z
Gen Z is open minded about blue-collar work and the Fords of the economy need them — but both sides are missing each other
By Muskaan ArshadDecember 20, 2025
20 hours ago
Josie Lauducci on the front of her boat
SuccessCareers
Meet the Gen Xer who lives on a boat—she supercommutes to California every few weeks for her $100-an-hour job. Just eight shifts cover all her bills
By Preston ForeDecember 20, 2025
21 hours ago
C-SuiteFortune 500 Power Moves
Fortune 500 Power Moves: Which executives gained and lost power this week
By Fortune EditorsDecember 19, 2025
2 days ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
The scientist who helped create AI says it’s only ‘a matter of time’ before every single job is wiped out—even safer trade jobs like plumbing
By Orianna Rosa RoyleDecember 19, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
As graduates face a ‘jobpocalypse,’ Goldman Sachs exec tells Gen Z they need to know their commercial impact 
By Preston ForeDecember 18, 2025
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
James Talarico says the biggest 'welfare queens' in America are 'the giant corporations that don't pay a penny in income taxes'
By Dave SmithDecember 20, 2025
19 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Sneaking unemployment rate means the U.S. economy is inching closer to a key recession indicator, says Moody’s
By Eleanor PringleDecember 19, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
AI
Meta’s 28-year-old billionaire prodigy says the next Bill Gates will be a 13-year-old who is ‘vibe coding’ right now
By Eva RoytburgDecember 19, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Future of Work
'They'll lose their humanity': Dartmouth professor says he's surprised just how scared his Gen Z students are of AI
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 20, 2025
17 hours ago