After Minneapolis, Tech CEOs Are Struggling to Stay Silent

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VortexLogic

The tech CEOs' silent struggle. A year after Minneapolis, the silence of many powerful executives has been broken.

In November 2016, four days after Donald Trump won his first presidential election, Mark Zuckerberg famously described Trump's victory as a "pretty crazy idea" that Facebook had nothing to do with. However, as time went on and Trump's policies began to take shape, many tech CEOs found themselves walking the tightrope of objecting to their company values being violated while still cooperating with the federal government.

The default strategy became lavishing flattery on the president and making deals where Trump could claim wins, often at the expense of public opinion. This behavior has been met with disappointment from many people, including the author, who sees it as a sellout of the companies' values for short-term gains.

Since the start of Trump's second term, there have been moments when some executives realized they needed to speak out against policies that harm Americans. For instance, in January 2023, after ten bullets were fired at Department of Veterans Affairs ICU nurse Alex Pretti, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed his dismay with ICE policies on internal Slack channels.

However, Altman was careful not to confront Trump directly and instead expressed hope that the president would "rise to this moment and unite the country." This approach highlights how many CEOs are struggling to find a balance between their company values and the pressure from the president's administration.

On the other hand, Daniela Amodei of Anthropic made a bold statement on LinkedIn, calling the events in Minnesota "horrific" and stating that freedom of speech, civil liberties, the rule of law, and human decency are cornerstones of American democracy.

It remains to be seen whether more tech CEOs will find their voices or stand behind their companies' stated values.
 
🤔 I think it's no surprise that many tech CEOs have been mum on Trump-era issues, considering his bombastic style and tendency to tweet before thinking 📣. It takes a lot of guts for someone like Daniela Amodei to speak out so strongly against the events in Minnesota - those words were not taken lightly 😬.

But what's interesting is that some are finally finding their voices, even if it's through more subtle means like internal Slack channels 💻. I hope we see more CEOs standing up for what they believe in, even if it means going against public opinion 👏. After all, companies have values and a social responsibility to uphold 🤝.
 
🤔 I feel like a lot of these tech CEOs have been playing it too safe, you know? They're all about making that dough and keeping their shareholders happy, but when it comes down to it, they need to have some guts and speak out against the stuff that's just not right. It's easy to take a stance when you're not the one who has to deal with the backlash 🤦‍♂️. I mean, I get why Daniela Amodei went off on those LinkedIn posts – she needs to represent her company and stand up for what's important. But at the same time, it's gotta be a team effort. Can't just have some CEOs standing tall while others are still whispering in their ears 🤫.
 
🤔 I'm so curious about why some CEOs were all about praising Trump in the beginning but then stopped speaking out when it didn't suit them anymore 🤑 like was there a deal they couldn't back down from? And what's with the contrast between Sam and Daniela - he's trying to be diplomatic while she's speaking her mind 💁‍♀️ maybe this is where we need more voices of courage in these situations?
 
I think it's pretty wild how some of these big CEOs have been so hesitant to speak up against Trump's policies, even when they're clearly going against what their own company values are about 🤔. It's like they're trying to play both sides and not rock the boat, but at the same time, isn't that exactly what's making people so upset? 😐

I mean, we've had instances where some of these CEOs have made a statement or two, but it's often more about being careful not to offend Trump directly rather than actually standing up for what they believe in 💡. And that's gotta be frustrating for people who are expecting them to take a stronger stance.

It'll be interesting to see if we start seeing more of these CEOs speaking out in the future 🤞, but for now, it feels like a lot of them are still stuck in this awkward spot 😐.
 
I'm low-key shocked how many people did nothing for months after Alex Pretti was shot in Minnesota 🤯🚨... like what's the hold up? Companies are all about making money, but you can't put a price on human life or basic freedoms 💸😒.

And yeah, I get why Sam Altman was careful not to rock the boat with Trump directly 🙅‍♂️, but some of his colleagues should at least show some solidarity with Pretti and speak out against ICE policies that are totally unfair 🤝🏽. It's like they're all just waiting for someone else to take the lead and make a statement 💪.

I'm rooting for companies that will stand up for their values, even if it means going against the administration 🙌💕... because in the end, doing what's right is way more important than trying to stay popular with Trump 🤦‍♂️.
 
I'm kinda worried about these big CEO's... they're not speaking out as much as I thought they would 🤔. I mean, Mark Zuckerberg's "pretty crazy idea" comment in 2016 was pretty bold, but after that, it's like he and others just sorta... shut down 😐. And it's still happening today! Like, what if someone gets shot at a VA hospital like Alex Pretti? You'd think some of these CEOs would want to speak out against policies that are harming people 🤷‍♀️. But instead, they're all like "oh, I'll just make nice with the president and hope he does the right thing"... it's kinda disingenuous 😒. I wish more of them would have Daniela's courage to say something loud and clear 💥!
 
🤔 I think it's crazy how some execs were all about playing nice with Trump but then realized they needed to speak out when it came to policies harming people 🙅‍♂️. Like, what happened to "do no harm"? Some of them need to find their courage and just say what's up – we need voices for the people, not just corporate profits 💸! It's about time more CEOs stand up for the values that matter, like freedom of speech and human decency 🗣️.
 
omg can u believe how many celeb chefs have opened up their own food trucks on wheels 🚐🍔?? like i was talking to my friend last week and she's all about that buffalo chicken trend, but honestly who needs a whole truck just for buffalo wings? 😂 what if the city bans it though? would u still try it out? anyway back to tech CEOs... i think they're kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. on one hand they gotta stay silent 'cause trump's all powerful 🤯, but on the other hand their companies' values are like, super important 🌟 can't we just have a bake sale fundraiser instead of all this drama? 😂
 
I'm low-key disappointed in how many big tech CEOs have been walking a fine line with Trump's policies 🤔. It feels like they're all about the Benjamins and not about speaking truth to power 💸. I mean, where's the outrage? Where's the accountability? Sam Altman's approach was cute, but Daniela Amodei is giving me LIFE 🔥 with her bold statement on LinkedIn! She's right, though - we need our CEOs to be vocal about protecting American values like freedom of speech and human decency 🤝. It's time for them to stop playing it safe and start taking a stand 💪. The question is, will they find their voice or stay silent? Only time will tell 🕰️.
 
🤔 come on guys like altman r really scared to go against trump straight up 🚫 dont get me wrong values matter but when the man in power is literally shooting nurses its time to speak out loud 💥 not just posting it on slack channels for all us to see lol . daniela amodei got balls tho 👏. what's it gonna take for them to stand behind their own companies' principles? 🤷‍♂️
 
I'm not sure what's more concerning – the fact that so many tech CEOs were too scared to speak out against Trump's policies back in 2016, or how some of them still can't seem to get it right a year later 🤔.

It's like they think being vocal about human decency and freedom of speech is too much to ask? I mean, come on, if you're going to make money off people's data and influence their online lives, then at least have the guts to stand up for what's right. It's not that hard, guys 🤑.

I do love Daniela Amodei's bold statement, though – it's about time someone called out Trump's administration for what they are: horrific policies that have real-world consequences 💥.

We need more CEOs like her who aren't afraid to take a stand and put their money where their mouth is. Until then, I'll just keep calling out the ones who are too chicken 🐓.
 
I'm getting really frustrated with these big execs and how they're playing it safe 🤯💸. I mean, come on! If you believe in something, speak up! Don't just smile and nod while your company values get trampled under the president's feet 🙄. It's like, we get it, you wanna make deals and keep your job, but at what cost? 😒 Their silence is deafening, especially after all those CEOs came out against Trump's policies after Minneapolis... now they're just talking about finding their voice again 🗣️. Give me a break!
 
Wow 😮! I feel like we're seeing a shift in these powerful execs finally finding their voice after keeping it under wraps for so long... it's about time 🙌 interesting how some are still walking the tightrope between pleasing the president and staying true to their company values 👀
 
I'm thinking, what's up with these CEOs? 🤔 They're all about makin' deals and gettin' along with the powers that be, but at what cost? Their values are sufferin' somethin' fierce! 😬 I mean, come on, if you're runnin' a company that's supposed to be about innovation and free speech, shouldn't you be speakin' out when it's gettin' trampled by the government? 🤷‍♂️ It's like they're all thinkin', "Oh, we don't wanna rock the boat"... newsflash: someone's gotta do it! 💪
 
I'm so done with these silent giants 🤯... I mean, I get it, some people think a little flattery goes a long way and you don't wanna rock the boat, but come on! Companies like OpenAI are already making waves in AI and machine learning - can't they just speak out when it comes to something as crucial as human rights and civil liberties? 🤔 Sam Altman's approach is all well and good, but I'd rather see more CEOs taking a stand, even if it means facing backlash. And Daniela Amodei's bold statement on LinkedIn was exactly what needed to be said 💁‍♀️... it's time for the tech world to show its voice! 📢
 
I'm still trying to figure out what's going on with these big tech bosses 🤔... like they're in this super tight spot between what they want to say and what they don't wanna rock the boat you know? They all seem so busy being friends with Trump and getting sweetheart deals for their companies but at the same time, there are people losing their lives and freedom because of it 🚫💔. It's like they're living in a bubble where nothing can penetrate or disrupt their carefully curated image.
 
I feel like these tech CEOs are caught in a really tough spot 🤔. On one hand, they're huge players in the industry and have a massive reach, so it's only natural that they'd want to maintain good relationships with the government 🤑. But at the same time, as you said, many of them made a promise to themselves (and their customers) to stand up for values like freedom of speech and human decency 💻.

It's interesting that some are trying to find a way to speak out without directly confronting Trump or his policies 🤷‍♂️. I mean, Sam Altman's approach might be seen as more cautious, but it still shows that he's not entirely silent on the issue 😬. On the other hand, Daniela Amodei's bold statement was refreshing to see 👏. It's like she's saying, "Hey, someone needs to speak up here!" 💪.

Ultimately, I think we'll just have to wait and see how this plays out 🤞. Will more CEOs find their voices and stand behind their values, or will they continue to tiptoe around the issues? Only time will tell 🕰️.
 
I gotta say, I'm a bit surprised it's taken this long for some CEOs to speak up about Trump's policies. I mean, come on, a year after Alex Pretti got shot and ICE policies are still out there... it's like they're just waiting for someone else to get hurt before they decide to take a stand 🤯. And Daniela Amodei's statement was refreshingly bold, btw - no holding back! 🙌
 
I gotta say, this is like something straight outta The Social Network - you know, when those Harvard students were all about changing the game and standing up for what's right 🤯... Fast forward to today, and it seems like a lot of these tech CEOs are still trying to figure that out. Like, Mark Zuckerberg and his crew were totally silent during Trump's first term, which was super problematic 🙅‍♂️. But now, we're seeing some of them slowly start to speak up about issues they care about... or not 😐.

I'm rooting for people like Daniela Amodei from Anthropic, you know, the one who called out ICE policies and said what needed saying 💁‍♀️. That takes courage! But at the same time, I get why others might be hesitant to speak up - especially when it comes to dealing with Trump's admin 😬. It's all about finding that balance between standing up for your values and not rocking the boat 🚣‍♂️.

For real though, we need more CEOs who are willing to take a stand on issues like freedom of speech and human decency 💖. That's what it's all about - creating positive change in the world!
 
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