Billionaire Mark Pincus, the founder of Zynga, publicly switched his political allegiance from the Democratic Party to Donald Trump on Sunday, citing growing concerns about antisemitism and tensions in the Middle East. A longtime Democrat, Pincus shared his decision on social media, revealing his change of heart just days before the 2024 election.
Reasons Behind the Support Switch
In his post, Pincus expressed deep concerns over the escalating antisemitism in the U.S., which he described as “reaching levels not seen since pre-WWII.” He also emphasized the importance of Israel, calling it “America’s most loyal ally and the only democracy in the Middle East,” and lamented that Israel could no longer trust the U.S. in its fight against Iran.
Pincus referenced Trump’s stance on ending the war with Gaza quickly, saying, “Israel is fighting Iran on 7 fronts and yet it can no longer trust the US.” The billionaire added that he believes Israel and America will be stronger under Trump’s leadership, contrasting his views with the current administration’s policies.
Free Speech and Media Concerns
Pincus also shared his frustration over what he perceives as attacks on freedom of speech, noting that “there seems to be a war against freedom of speech.” He expressed relief that mainstream media (MSM) was no longer trusted, but warned that censorship on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) could move America closer to authoritarian states like Russia and China.
Previous Support for Biden
Before switching his support to Trump, Pincus had been an active donor to President Biden’s re-election campaign. In December 2023, he donated the maximum allowed amount of $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund and contributed over $165,000 to the Democratic National Committee. However, Pincus now believes that America and Israel would be better served under a Trump presidency.
Pincus Joins Other Silicon Valley Billionaires Supporting Trump
Pincus’s decision to support Trump aligns him with other Silicon Valley billionaires who have also shifted their backing. Notably, Elon Musk has publicly declared himself a “Dark MAGA” supporter and attended Trump rallies. Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, who previously donated $1 million to Democrats, also backs Trump this election cycle. Additionally, the Winklevoss twins have donated $1 million each to Trump’s campaign in Bitcoin.
Pincus, who lives in California, acknowledged that his vote might not make a difference in his state, which is heavily Democratic, but emphasized that he felt it was important to publicly state his position.