JD Vance has heaped praise on David Sacks, calling the influential Silicon Valley entrepreneur and venture capitalist one of his “closest friends in the tech world.” Vance during his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast talked about Sacks’ shift from being a Trump sceptic in 2016 to a staunch supporter by 2020, citing their shared disdain for what they saw as political and cultural “insanity.”
“Dave and I were both critical of Trump in 2016, but we came at that criticism from a right-to-centre perspective,” Vance said. “By 2020, we both agreed—this crazy nonsense has to end. Trump is our guy. And not just that—he might have been the only one capable of turning the tide against it.”
Sacks, a member of the so-called “PayPal Mafia” and a prominent venture capitalist, has gained attention for his outspoken opposition to “woke” ideologies and his advocacy for foreign policy realism. Vance expressed admiration for Sacks’ unapologetic approach, describing him as someone who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, regardless of the backlash.
“David is so anti-woke, and I admire it in a lot of ways,” Vance remarked. “He’s very into foreign policy realism—asking why we’re starting these stupid wars all over the world. He’s saying what he believes, no matter the consequences. It’s something I love about him, even when we don’t fully agree.”
Sacks has been tapped by Donald Trump to serve as the White House Artificial Intelligence and Crypto Czar in Trump 2.0. Trump announced Sacks’ appointment on his Truth Social platform, emphasising the role’s importance in shaping America’s future competitiveness in these critical technologies.
While the appointment has sparked debate, Sacks’ credentials in the tech world are undisputed. As a founding executive of PayPal, he played a key role in the company’s early success and later went on to establish Craft Ventures, a prominent venture capital firm. Sacks is also a co-host of the All-In Podcast, where he discusses pressing economic and political issues alongside other Silicon Valley leaders.
Vance also touched on Sacks’ growing boldness in the political arena. “Sometimes I look at what David says and think, ‘Dude, are you even going to be welcome in your neighbourhood?’ But that’s the thing—people are tired of being told what to think. The First Amendment isn’t just a legal concept; it’s a cultural value, and David embodies that.”
Sacks, who hosted a fundraiser for Vance during his Senate campaign, has long been a vocal critic of perceived biases in Big Tech and mainstream media. He has also been a staunch advocate for cryptocurrency, describing it as a revolutionary step in the evolution of the internet.