Elon Musk on Biden's withdrawal: 'My smartest friends are excited about Trump'

In a surprising twist in American politics, Elon Musk, one of the most influential billionaires in Silicon Valley, has thrown his full support behind former President Donald Trump, signaling a significant political shift in the tech industry. 

Just after US President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, Musk took to X to share his stance and the changing political allegiances among his peers.

Elon Musk, who previously revealed his endorsement of Trump following an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally, emphasized that many of his "smartest friends," including lifelong Democrats from the San Francisco Bay Area, are now showing enthusiasm for the Trump/Vance ticket. 

Musk's post on X highlighted this unexpected shift, stating, "My smartest friends, including those living in the San Francisco Bay Area who have been lifelong Dems, are excited about Trump/Vance."

This revelation is part of a broader trend where several top Silicon Valley figures, such as Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen of venture firm Andreessen Horowitz, have openly supported Trump. 

Their endorsement, revealed on "The Little Tech Agenda" podcast, underscores a growing alignment with the Republican Party among tech industry leaders.

The endorsement frenzy isn't limited to new entrants into the Republican fold. 

Established conservatives like Peter Thiel and Joe Lonsdale have long supported Trump, reinforcing the tech sector's growing rapport with GOP ideologies. 

JD Vance, a venture capitalist turned Ohio senator, also ties Silicon Valley to Trump, having started his career at Thiel's Mithril Capital.

Amidst these political endorsements, Musk also highlighted the pivotal role of X, the platform he owns, in contemporary political discourse. 

He noted that White House aides first learned of Biden's campaign cessation through X, illustrating the platform's critical role in disseminating major news swiftly.

Musk's alignment with the Republican Party reflects his belief in an America that "maximizes individual freedom and merit," a principle he feels the Democrats once held but now sees embodied by the Republicans.