Prominent tech CEOs and billionaires condemned the shooting at a Trump rally on Saturday, with some voicing their support for former President Donald Trump.
At least two people, including the suspected shooter, were killed on Saturday after shots were fired at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to a statement from the Secret Service. Two other rally attendees were critically injured, the agency said.
The shooting immediately drew reactions from top lawmakers, the Biden administration, and business leaders across the political spectrum.
Here are some of their reactions:
Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban.
Amanda Stronza/SXSW Conference & Festivals via Getty Images
Billionaire Mark Cuban, who has voiced support for President Joe Biden for a second term, wrote on X in the hour of the shooting that he hoped “the former president is Ok and no one else was injured.”
“And let’s hope they catch the idiot who did this. This is not the way,” Cuban wrote. “And thank you to the Secret Service who put themselves in harms way to protect the former President.”
Elon Musk
Elon Musk.
Richard Bord/WireImage/Getty Images
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has feuded with Cuban over hot-button political issues, chose the moment to announce his endorsement of Trump. Musk previously said he would avoid financially backing a 2024 candidate, but Bloomberg recently reported that he donated to a pro-Trump super PAC.
“I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery,” Musk wrote on X.
Jamie Dimon
Jamie Dimon.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said in a statement to the firm’s employees on behalf of the bank’s leadership that the shooting deeply saddened him and others.
“We must all stand firmly together against any acts of hate, intimidation or violence that seek to undermine our democracy or inflict harm. It is only through constructive dialogue that we can tackle our nation’s toughest challenges,” he wrote.
Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg similarly said on Threads that he is praying for a “quick recovery for President Trump.”
Tim Cook
Tim Cook.
Justin Sullivan/Getty
Apple CEO Tim Cook, who typically prefers to maintain some semblance of neutrality and diplomacy in US politics, condemned the shooting.
“I pray for President Trump’s rapid recovery. My thoughts are with him, the other victims and the Trump family. I strongly condemn this violence,” he wrote on X.
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos.
EMMANUEL DUNAND
In his first post on X in early nine months, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wrote that Trump “showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight.”
“So thankful for his safety and so sad for the victims and their families,” Bezos wrote.
Satya Nadella
Satya Nadella.
Microsoft
Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, called the incident on X a “horrific event” and said, “there is simply no place for any type of violence in our society.”
Sundar Pichai
Sundar Pichai.
Justin Sullivan/Getty
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google parent Alphabet, wrote on X that he wished the former president a “speedy recovery.” He added that political violence is “intolerable” and that everyone should come together to oppose it.
David Solomon
David Solomon.
Patrick Semansky/AP
David Solomon, the CEO of Goldman Sachs, expressed gratitude on the company’s earnings call on Monday that the former president is safe.
Solomon urged people to treat one another with respect and to show civility. “We cannot afford division and distrust to get the better of us,” he said.
Sam Altman
Sam Altman.
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
In a brief statement on X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote, “very glad President Trump is safe!”
Larry Fink
Larry Fink.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
On CNBC, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said Monday that the shooting was a tragedy and that Americans need to discuss societal divisions.
“We need to create hope. All of us have a responsibility, every political candidate, every leader, every pastor, minister, rabbi. We all have a responsibility of bringing our community together to bring hope. And that’s what we are here for, to bring hope, to provide a better future,” he said.
Andy Jassy
Andy Jassy.
Mike Blake/Reuters
Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon, also expressed shock at the shooting, saying it was “hard to digest” and “awful.”
Marc Benioff
Marc Benioff.
FABRICE COFFRINI/ Getty Images
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, who hasn’t publicly endorsed a 2024 candidate but was optimistic about his company’s prospects regardless of the election outcome, wrote on X that he wished a quick recovery for Trump and condemned “political violence.”
“A full and speedy recovery to President Trump. May his body be healed, his mind be soothed, and his soul be comforted. May he be blessed with strength and courage, and return to health soon. There is no room in our country for political violence,” he wrote.
Ken Griffin
Ken Griffin.
Michael Kovac
Ken Griffin, CEO of the hedge fund manager Citadel, said in a statement that his thoughts were with former President Trump and the other victims of the attack. Griffin also condemned the violence.
“As Americans, we are fortunate to have the right to peacefully resolve our political differences by casting our votes,” he said.
Marc Andreessen
Marc Andreessen.
Kimberly White/Getty Images
Marc Andreessen, cofounder of the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, posted a cryptic image of an American flag on X following the incident. He has yet to publicly endorse a 2024 candidate but has been critical of the Biden Administration.
Brian Chesky
Brian Chesky.
Kimberly White/Getty Images
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement posted on X that he was “thankful President Trump wasn’t seriously injured.”
Doug McMillon
Walmart CEO Doug McMillon condemned in a LinkedIn post the shooting attempt against former President Trump.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, wrote on LinkedIn that violence “has no place in our country’s democratic process or society and hurts us all.”
He wished the former president a speedy recovery and wrote, “We’re heartbroken for the victims and their families.”
Pat Gelsinger
Pat Gelsinger.
AP Photo/Noah Berger
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger wrote on X that the shooting had made for a “very difficult night for our nation.” He said he was relieved to hear that the former president was “in good spirits” and denounced violence.
Reid Hoffman
Reid Hoffman.
Kimberly White/Getty Images
Reid Hoffman, cofounder of LinkedIn, wrote on X, “Assassination is not only categorically wrong, but is also the assassination of democracy.”
He wished the former president a quick recovery. He also criticized some of Trump’s rhetoric, writing, “When he warns against consequences of him losing the election, he should not predict a ‘bloodbath’ in a way that might incite future protesters to violence against his political opponents.”
Bill Ackman
Bill Ackman.
Adam Jeffery/CNBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Bill Ackman, the CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, wrote on X hours after the shooting that he was endorsing Trump for president. Ackman said he would write a long post to explain his thinking.
David Sacks
David Sacks.
Reuters
The venture capitalist David Sacks reaffirmed his support for the former president, writing on X, “There’s not a braver man in America than Donald Trump.”
Source : Business Insider