Tech billionaire Peter Thiel says he got it “wrong” supporting Donald Trump
By David Hudson · 89 comments· Updated on November 11, 2023
Peter Thiel and Donald Trump (YouTube/Shutterstock)
The tech billionaire and political donor Peter Thiel has given a lengthy interview to The Atlantic. In it, the gay entrepreneur explains why he believes donating millions of dollars to Donald Trump was “wrong”.
He also says that despite his record of backing far-right Republicans, he won’t be doing so again in the run-up to the 2024 election.
Thiel was one of the co-founders of PayPal, which made him a fortune when he sold it to eBay in 2002. He was also a very early investor in Facebook, buying a 10% slice of the company when it was just starting. That made him a further fortune when he sold his stake in 2012.
Since then, he has plowed his money into further start-up investments and political causes. He is a libertarian, opposed to big government or state intervention in personal liberty.
Despite his sexuality, he’s also vehemently opposed to identity politics, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Republican National Convention
Peter Thiel speaks at the Republican National Convention in 2016 (Photo: Shutterstock)
Thiel first publicly endorsed Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. He says Donald Trump Jr saw that he was down to attend and invited him to speak.
Thiel was attracted to Trump Snr’s promise to rip everything up and do things differently.
“‘Make America great again’ was the most pessimistic slogan of any candidate in 100 years, because you were saying that we are no longer a great country,” Thiel says. “And that was a shocking slogan for a major presidential candidate.”
However, Thiel thought it was a message people needed to hear – and that it would win them over.
“Voting for Trump was like a not very articulate scream for help,” Thiel now says. He realizes that Trump’s idea of ripping up convention led to chaos and not a new way of doing things.
“There are a lot of things I got wrong,” he said. “It was crazier than I thought. It was more dangerous than I thought. They couldn’t get the most basic pieces of the government to work. So that was—I think that part was maybe worse than even my low expectations.”
That said, he says he doesn’t regret what he did to support Trump. But he won’t be doing it again. He’s already made this fact known to the former President.
Turning Trump down for money
Thiel says he avoided taking calls from Trump earlier this year but finally had to do so in late April. Trump reminded him that he’d backed Blake Masters and JD Vance in their Senate races. Vance won but Masters lost. Thiel had donated $10 million to each, and Trump wanted the same amount.
Thiel declined.
Trump “told me that he was very sad, very sad to hear that,” Thiel recalled. “He had expected way more of me. And that’s how the call ended.”
Thiel later heard via Masters that Trump allegedly called the investor a “f*cking scumbag” for refusing to donate further money to him.
Thiel went on to say he was giving the interview to The Atlantic to go on record as stating he won’t donate any more money to politicians in the next Presidential campaign. He appears to believe lawmakers make big promises before entering office, but then lack grand ambition or the ability to do much once they gain power. He wants them to not bother him with calls seeking donations.
Online, many expressed skepticism toward Thiel turning his back on Republicans.
If Trump were to win somehow, guys like Thiel would flip again. He can't be trusted
When trump first ran for president I knew he would be a horrible president. Why? Because he's a horrible human being. He was also a documented poor businessman. A misogynist, a pathological liar. Why is it taking people so long to see him for what he is?
Besides not donating to politicians, Thiel also doesn’t appear keen on donating to the less fortunate. When the interviewer mentions the terrible poverty and inequality around the world, Thiel says, “I think there are enough people working on that.”
Thiel goes on to suggest that there’s a growing view among some in Europe and the US that, “philanthropy is something an evil person does … What are you atoning for?”
I am glad to see someone admit that they made a mistake with Trump. Too many people are unable to do so. I hope that this encourages others to do the same and I hope that we can help to encourage more of this rather than attacking him for not passing all of our purity tests.
Thiel did get his billionaire tax cuts though, so he got what he wanted. Glad to see he’s changed his tune, but don’t expect him to be supporting any democrat in the future either.
Just another narcissistic mega-billionaire who thinks he knows what’s best for everyone else. He is living proof that you can be gay (he wouldn’t use LGBTQ) and still be an a-hole.
Agreed! His admission of having made a “mistake” blatantly shows what little knowledge he had of civics, politics and government… It takes a huge narcissist to believe that one person is capable of reinventing the great American experiment in democracy….and I’m sure his motivation was so that he could have a say in that process!
‘Thiel goes on to suggest that there’s a growing view among some in Europe and the US that, “philanthropy is something an evil person does … What are you atoning for?”’
A “growing view” ever since 1889 when Andrew Carnegie wrote The Gospel of Wealth.
Looks like Thiel won’t be wasting his money building libraries!
Too bad Carnegie treated his own workers like garbage. 12 hour shift, 7 days a week. Slashing wages. Only one day off all year (July 4). Maybe his philanthropy was lead by atonement?
@ShaverC: Uh, yes, that’s exactly the point. Carnegie was atoning, and yes admitted he was atoning — in 1889! So Thiel’s calling it “a growing view” of 2023 wokesters is pretty silly. You do realize that if Thiel and his libertarian pals had their way, we wouldn’t have any of this 40-hour week and paid holiday stuff?
Still, This is a definition of libertarianism: “Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and political freedom, and minimize the state’s encroachment on and violations of individual liberties; emphasizing the rule of law, pluralism, cosmopolitanism, cooperation, civil and political rights, bodily autonomy, freedom of association, free trade, freedom of expression.”
So your claim is ridiculous.
Oh, Dickvaney. Interesting that you mention unworkable utopias. Has your Big Government utopia idea ever worked? Tell that to the backlogged individuals right now in your very state with Medi-Cal and unemployment cases over a year old. Here’s reality for you: The system we have is the best we can do. It sucks, but that’s life. I used to be a socialist. What exactly do you hope to accomplish besides screaming “Tax the Rich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” every four years at the top of your lungs? Sit down.
No, it doesn’t work fine. You dodged my question. Again, this is typical for the far-left ilk of Queerty.
Here’s an article from three days ago from the non-partisan CalMatters. THREE DAYS AGO.
“A year-long CalMatters investigation found that the EDD was primed for disaster by years of failing to heed red flags, stalling reforms and abruptly abandoning a pre-pandemic effort to get ahead of exploding online fraud — issues that rose to the top of political agendas and budgets around recessions, but were never really fixed as governors, legislators and federal regulations changed.”
This is your state that teems with a Big Government ideology. It certainly seems like your “Tax the Rich!!!!!!” pissing and moaning isn’t doing the bare minimum for California’s working-class and poor. Meanwhile, your Governor (Gov. Hair Gel) is getting into a peeing match with Ron DeSantis.
More stats from the article:
“Ultimately, state reports have found that 5 million Californians saw unemployment payments delayed during the pandemic, and at least 1 million saw benefits improperly denied. A backlog of unprocessed claims peaked at around 1.6 million.”
So again, my question (which you didn’t answer and pivoted) is thus: How do you make a large-scale socialist system work for so many people? It doesn’t! Capitalism is here to stay in some capacity. And you can whine about the rich for years. It’s not solving anything. Here’s that mirror for you that I’m holding. Look into it. You’re not any different from what you’re criticizing.
Dickvaney, it’s noted that you can’t defend the backlogged system. The majority of residents who vacated? Working-class and middle-class. But please, tell everyone how it’s the Republicans who don’t care about the Poors for the umpteenth time. We can all roll our eyes at you. It’s sheer stupidity at this point. I’ve got news for you, too. The poor minorities? Trump claimed a chunk of their votes last time. The supposed trends are reversing for your party. Pivot and shout at the top of your lungs some more. It’s so very helpful to your cause.
Why would someone who is not gay. lesbian, bi or trans join a fake group like “gays against groomers?” But then, I’m sure there are no gay members of that group. But it is yet another fake conspiracy that this liar seems to latch on to.
And this troll bringing up healthcare when his state has more uninsured people than California is ridiculous, especially considering Republicans are doing NOTHING about healthcare. The Republican plan is “Oh, you can’t afford it? DIE.”
All this stuff this troll complains about but his party has no plan to fix anything. The only thing his party stands for is to worship Trump.
Because that group works with gender de-transitioners. You know, since your political ideology gives zero craps about the 18yo with autism and amputeed tatas. That’s why, genius.
Uh yeah, I lived in California until recently. And secondly, I AM NOT A REPUBLICIAN. I don’t know how many times I have to tell your deeply, deeply stupid a$$ this. I view both parties as equally evil and terrible. But again, make it about the two-party duopoly in your barren sack of a brain.
Does your party have plans to fix anything? Oh wait. They decided to bring in undocumented workers on a system with 1.5 million backlog cases in California. Once again, you can’t event answer the questions I pose. You pivot and make it about the two-party duopoly because your arguments are so weak. Everyone can see it, Dickvaney. Same as not being able to answer the $50,000 question as it relates to trans youth medicalization. How can we better test those with an actual gender identity incongruency vs. someone with significant gender-based trauma? And what does that look like in our current healthcare system? These are the questions you cannot answer. The Queerty comment section knows this. So, you know, just ramble into the void about Republicans or whatever. Pee in the wind, Dave. Pee a nice stream for us.
Thiel wanted to transfuse himself with young people’s blood in order to rejuvenate himself and not only look younger but BE younger. Shades of Countess Elizabeth Bathory! (who someone mentioned to abfab recently).
Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed (Hungarian: Báthori Erzsébet, pronounced [?ba?tori ??r?e?b?t]; Slovak: Alžbeta Bátoriová; 7 August 1560 – 21 August 1614)[1] was a Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer from the family of Báthory, who owned land in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Slovakia).
wiki
Imagine owning all that land. Trump thinks he still can. Thiel would like too but he’s over now too
Abfab, we can say the same thing for Jennifer Pritzker. Billions of dollars can not erase the fact that you still look like your birth gender. Tell that to the kids. I sure do. That’s what I do now. I tell them the TRUTH.
Which one? Jennifer Pritzker still has gender markers despite her wealth? I’d say the same for Caitlyn Jenner. Your state has a mass exodus of working class and middle class people? That’s also true. CalMatters isn’t BreitBart. (Shrugs) You look hysterical.
And here comes the Nazi remarks. That’s how you know you’ve lost an argument. You can’t respond to a NON-PARTISIAN JOURNAL OF THE CALIFORNIA intelligentsia. And so, you blabber out Nazi remarks. Such a brilliant mind.
”Thiel went on to say he was giving the interview to The Atlantic to go on record as stating he won’t donate any more money to politicians in the next Presidential campaign. He appears to believe lawmakers make big promises before entering office, but then lack grand ambition or the ability to do much once they gain power. He wants them to not bother him with calls seeking donations.”
I’ve known a lot of well-meaning and otherwise smart libertarians who firmly believed some of the dumbest stuff ever. They’re very dense about their libertarian beliefs and if and when they finally admit they were wrong, they act as if no one could have known better, even though nearly everyone else did all along. I think their brains fail to make the transition into being an adult, because it all reeks of immature teenager-thinking.
Libertarians apparently believe that business people never lie, never commit fraud, never put out dangerous products. It’s a completely naive way of thinking.
Ayn Rand’s books are complete fantasies. If the business leaders disappeared their businesses would keep running because it’s the workers who keep it going, not the bosses.
Ah yes, Ms Rand. Another one of the Great Charlatans. Pompous, too. She should be here to see how well here weak theories panned out and made for a better world.
And do people in Big Government never commit fraud or corporate malfeasance? Your own governor (Gov. Hair Gel) gave out COVID contracts to the Big Pharma corporations who donated to his campaign. The activists behind Black Lives Matter diverted funds and lived in mansions through a form of nepotism. It ain’t just regulated to libertarians. Hate to burst your bubble, Davey.
He gave millions to a crazy man who tried to overthrow the US government, and now he says it was wrong but he doesn’t regret it and won’t atone by directing money in a better direction now.
He isn’t libertarian. He only cares about his liberties. He’s a stupid, greedy, rich narcissist, just like the candidate he backed.
Still have not forgotten how he used Hulk Hogan to destroy Gawker.
To me, Thiel seems to be a deeply evil person.
I suppose it’s better he’s not giving money to the Count of Monte Crisco or other politicians, but he’s still on my naughty list for Christmas. Enjoy your coal.
Thiel is a libertarian but also a capitalist utopian who once said something along the lines of he wished there were even more countries on the globe (he’s a citizen of several, don’t forget), in part because the more jurisdictions there were, the harder it would be to control the super rich. He bought Don the Con’s fascist nonsense, and I’m glad he finally woke up. I’m sure the tragic suicide of his ex-boytoy down in Miami this spring alongside the extremely anti-LBGTQ policies of DeFascist and others also shook him out of his Trumpian stupor. The man still has a LOT of money, power, and bad political impulses, though.
Speaking of Rand, she isn’t the only libertarian to worry about. One of the major American philosophers of the 20th century, Robert Nozick, wrote Anarchy, State, Utopia in 1974, as a response to John Rawl’s landmark A Theory of Justice (1971), which is considered one of the most important philosophical accounts of liberalism over the last 100 years. Nozick’s severe but reasoned book is a far more coherent (and, if you think it through, unreal) account of libertarianism than anything Ayn Rand ever wrote. The difference is Rand’s books are fiction, have interesting plots and provide lots of opportunities for emotional identification, which is why they remain so popular.
And then there’s the late Nobel laureate economists Milton Friedman and the arch-racist James M. Buchanan, two other people with libertarian leanings who unleashed all kinds of horrors, not least among them neoliberal capitalism, on the US and globe (though some of Friedman’s insights in monetary policy are quite brilliant and helped pull the US out of the economic collapse under George W. Bush).
Blake Masters did not win his Senate campaign. He lost to incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Kelly by nearly 5 percentage points. Please fact check and proofread your articles.
Right? Queerty is riddled with basic errors. I worked on the opposing campaign for Katie Hobbs and told everyone to vote for Kari Lake. Maybe Queerty should stick to posting pics of white cis gay nipples. It’s what they do best.
At the time, Kari Lake seemed more appealing to me than Katie Hobbs, a woman who wilted under the lights of national media and couldn’t back up her own thoughts. And hey, that was the common response my fellow canvassers received at the door. I just agreed with the voters at the door. Katie Hobbs was a hard sell.
Since then, I’ve joined Gays Against Groomers and volunteered as a media assistant for a prominent gender de-transitioner who was interviewed by Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly. Changing worldviews!
I’ve said this to you multiple times over. If I received support from the LGBTQ community for the horrors I went through with the medical industry, perhaps the story would have turned out differently. And yet, here we are in 2023.
Meanwhile, you callously dodged the backlogged system in your very home state. But tell us how exactly the working-class and middle class should vote for your party again. Republican vs. Republican-lite? You wanna talk about morals? Your Diet Coke Republicanism with Zero Calories! sure goes down the gullet good. Eye roll. Please spare me.
Some idiot likes to keep putting others thru the horrors that they went thru. Can you just imagine being in the same room with this lunatic. Imagine being one of this blabber mouth’s nurses or care givers?
This is one of those rare cases. ”It is what it is”, as this low-life, irritating, annoying TROLL likes to say. QUEERTY, please compile all of this person’s iterations as evidence should they go postal. It’s all right here.
Meanwhile, your song lyrics are oh so sane. Bust out the theme song for ‘My Mother the Car’ while badly butchering words and tut-tutting Black Memphis hicks, you racist nutjob.
It sure got underneath your skin yesterday, didn’t it, Abbey? You had to clarify Memphis insults in regards to Freddy. It’s clear as day you look down on those inner-city minorities. You only see votes. Perhaps you should search for a raccoon carcass in the ditch near your trailer. I’m sure QAnon has some government buildings to storm come 2024. They think the Blacks are ignorant just like you. Get help for your racism, Abbey.
Way to little and too late. DJT already spent your millions. Did he really expect something good in 2016? That’s why political contributions shld be limited to $5000 for individuals, corporations PACs and foreign countries.
Or maybe he’s just exactly what we thought all along, an opportunistic p***k who embraced the hatred, darkness and madness of the MAGA movement lock, stock and barrel. Who TF does he think he’s kidding here? I’m just sad that he’s a gay man. I’m ashamed to have him a member of the club.
Stay tuned. He’ll be going into conversion therapy soon. This is one sick human being. He can hire the best therapists. Let’s wish this little cupcake well.
Well, I am a fairly pure libertarian, and a passionate meritocrat. But socially probably more liberal than almost anyone even in this forum. So, in a two-party system, there is effectively no one I can ever really support. It will always be the lesser of two evils. I actually saw Trump speak in person for the first time two days ago – and yeah, there were some very cringey moments, but also some great ones. What do you do with that?
”The lesser of the two evils.” Is that an original thought, your approach to living, or just a worthless cliche? Please let us know after you sober up from the rally.
Trump lies as easy as breathing. He has no concept of the truth. You know, it doesn’t take a genius to tell the difference between 10,000sqft and 30,000sqft. The thing is, he truly believes that we are all stupid and will believe anything that he says. “Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?” It makes no sense to trust someone with the government of a nation when they ran their own businesses aground 6 TIMES. If he’s incompetent at that level, why would anyone assume that he can run a government? I’m 74 and I NEVER heard of ANYONE making excuses for an ELECTED president saying that he didn’t understand what all the job entailed. Any they expect people to believe that BS. You know, ANY CEO worth his/her salt is loathe to have ONE bankruptcy on their record. Had he been in anything other than a family owned business he would have been shown the door after the 1st one. Aside from taking Top Secret documents from the White House, how can ANYONE think that it was OK to freely talk about military secrets to a foreign national?
No, Trump’s got to go. There is nothing redeemable about him at all.
I agree that there are a lot of false statements, and something of a dictatorial attitude. But to answer the question as to what positives there could be for a libertarian – he leads a movement that is keen to dismantle the federal government establishment and return more authority to local governments. So, I may disagree with the reasons WHY they might want to, say, eliminate the federal Department of Education. But I agree with doing so, since it wasn’t authorised by the constitution in the first place, and there was never meant to be a federal role.
Careful that you don’t get poisoned with your dessert. Trump isn’t libertarian anymore than he’s evangelical or conservative. He is entirely self-absorbed and will do or say whatever is necessary to be worshipped by his cult. Some evangelicals — like Mike Pence — used this to their advantage to alter the Supreme Court and miscalculated, nearly destroying the nation and themselves in the process. And they validated a population of nominally religious fanatics who care nothing about traditional Christian values, because Trump exhibits none.
Poor dear abfab. Didn’t grow up in a nice Christian family. Yes, they do exist.
My whole family is Christian and they all accept me and my partner, too. Took my sister a while because she married into the Church of Christ, where they think Baptists are going to hell with homosexuals.
Sadly, too many people were not paying attention. I knew what a slug Trump was in the 80’s. It took a long time for folks to catch up with this. No way should he ever be allowed to be anywhere near the presidency.
Thiel did get his billionaire tax cuts though, so he got what he wanted. Glad to see he’s changed his tune, but don’t expect him to be supporting any democrat in the future either.
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PeteP
I am glad to see someone admit that they made a mistake with Trump. Too many people are unable to do so. I hope that this encourages others to do the same and I hope that we can help to encourage more of this rather than attacking him for not passing all of our purity tests.
abfab
Keep hope alive.
James
You’re crazy. You probably voted for trump also.
LumpyPillows
Thiel did get his billionaire tax cuts though, so he got what he wanted. Glad to see he’s changed his tune, but don’t expect him to be supporting any democrat in the future either.
Jeremiah
Just another narcissistic mega-billionaire who thinks he knows what’s best for everyone else. He is living proof that you can be gay (he wouldn’t use LGBTQ) and still be an a-hole.
Tim44309
Agreed! His admission of having made a “mistake” blatantly shows what little knowledge he had of civics, politics and government… It takes a huge narcissist to believe that one person is capable of reinventing the great American experiment in democracy….and I’m sure his motivation was so that he could have a say in that process!
still_onthemark
‘Thiel goes on to suggest that there’s a growing view among some in Europe and the US that, “philanthropy is something an evil person does … What are you atoning for?”’
A “growing view” ever since 1889 when Andrew Carnegie wrote The Gospel of Wealth.
Looks like Thiel won’t be wasting his money building libraries!
ShaverC
Too bad Carnegie treated his own workers like garbage. 12 hour shift, 7 days a week. Slashing wages. Only one day off all year (July 4). Maybe his philanthropy was lead by atonement?
dbmcvey
Shaver is right that billionaires shouldn’t exist.
dbmcvey
Tax the rich!
abfab
Tax ShaveC double for being an asshole again. Bringing in his own twisted narrative.
still_onthemark
@ShaverC: Uh, yes, that’s exactly the point. Carnegie was atoning, and yes admitted he was atoning — in 1889! So Thiel’s calling it “a growing view” of 2023 wokesters is pretty silly. You do realize that if Thiel and his libertarian pals had their way, we wouldn’t have any of this 40-hour week and paid holiday stuff?
abfab
What exactly is a Livertarian?
abfab
Peter Thiel has the tackiest taste in residential architecture. Unlike Carnegie.
Check out the ostentacious monstrosity Pete dwells in, of course, in a gated community in Miami.
ShaverC
Still, This is a definition of libertarianism: “Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and political freedom, and minimize the state’s encroachment on and violations of individual liberties; emphasizing the rule of law, pluralism, cosmopolitanism, cooperation, civil and political rights, bodily autonomy, freedom of association, free trade, freedom of expression.”
So your claim is ridiculous.
abfab
And so are your boiler plate responces, ShaverC.
dbmcvey
Libertarianism is just Utopian thinking. It depends on people and corporations acting in a responsible way, and we know that doesn’t happen.
dbmcvey
It’s weird that all these “libertarians” supported the Oligarch fascist Trump, that doesn’t seem to indicate a strong belief in Randian principles.
abfab
I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.
-Ayn Rand
(nice lady)
decrans
Oh, Dickvaney. Interesting that you mention unworkable utopias. Has your Big Government utopia idea ever worked? Tell that to the backlogged individuals right now in your very state with Medi-Cal and unemployment cases over a year old. Here’s reality for you: The system we have is the best we can do. It sucks, but that’s life. I used to be a socialist. What exactly do you hope to accomplish besides screaming “Tax the Rich!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” every four years at the top of your lungs? Sit down.
dbmcvey
It works fine. Why do you ask?
Can you come up with a libertarian government, anywhere, that has ever worked?
decrans
No, it doesn’t work fine. You dodged my question. Again, this is typical for the far-left ilk of Queerty.
Here’s an article from three days ago from the non-partisan CalMatters. THREE DAYS AGO.
“A year-long CalMatters investigation found that the EDD was primed for disaster by years of failing to heed red flags, stalling reforms and abruptly abandoning a pre-pandemic effort to get ahead of exploding online fraud — issues that rose to the top of political agendas and budgets around recessions, but were never really fixed as governors, legislators and federal regulations changed.”
This is your state that teems with a Big Government ideology. It certainly seems like your “Tax the Rich!!!!!!” pissing and moaning isn’t doing the bare minimum for California’s working-class and poor. Meanwhile, your Governor (Gov. Hair Gel) is getting into a peeing match with Ron DeSantis.
More stats from the article:
“Ultimately, state reports have found that 5 million Californians saw unemployment payments delayed during the pandemic, and at least 1 million saw benefits improperly denied. A backlog of unprocessed claims peaked at around 1.6 million.”
So again, my question (which you didn’t answer and pivoted) is thus: How do you make a large-scale socialist system work for so many people? It doesn’t! Capitalism is here to stay in some capacity. And you can whine about the rich for years. It’s not solving anything. Here’s that mirror for you that I’m holding. Look into it. You’re not any different from what you’re criticizing.
dbmcvey
California’s great!
And even better since all the fools moved to Texas.
Of course, they’re all moving back now because Texas sucks. It’s hot, humid and the people are jerks. So, this troll will fit in fine there.
decrans
Dickvaney, it’s noted that you can’t defend the backlogged system. The majority of residents who vacated? Working-class and middle-class. But please, tell everyone how it’s the Republicans who don’t care about the Poors for the umpteenth time. We can all roll our eyes at you. It’s sheer stupidity at this point. I’ve got news for you, too. The poor minorities? Trump claimed a chunk of their votes last time. The supposed trends are reversing for your party. Pivot and shout at the top of your lungs some more. It’s so very helpful to your cause.
abfab
Everything is Bigger in Texas! Incuding the assholes.
dbmcvey
Why would someone who is not gay. lesbian, bi or trans join a fake group like “gays against groomers?” But then, I’m sure there are no gay members of that group. But it is yet another fake conspiracy that this liar seems to latch on to.
And this troll bringing up healthcare when his state has more uninsured people than California is ridiculous, especially considering Republicans are doing NOTHING about healthcare. The Republican plan is “Oh, you can’t afford it? DIE.”
All this stuff this troll complains about but his party has no plan to fix anything. The only thing his party stands for is to worship Trump.
Pathetic troll.
decrans
Because that group works with gender de-transitioners. You know, since your political ideology gives zero craps about the 18yo with autism and amputeed tatas. That’s why, genius.
decrans
Uh yeah, I lived in California until recently. And secondly, I AM NOT A REPUBLICIAN. I don’t know how many times I have to tell your deeply, deeply stupid a$$ this. I view both parties as equally evil and terrible. But again, make it about the two-party duopoly in your barren sack of a brain.
decrans
Does your party have plans to fix anything? Oh wait. They decided to bring in undocumented workers on a system with 1.5 million backlog cases in California. Once again, you can’t event answer the questions I pose. You pivot and make it about the two-party duopoly because your arguments are so weak. Everyone can see it, Dickvaney. Same as not being able to answer the $50,000 question as it relates to trans youth medicalization. How can we better test those with an actual gender identity incongruency vs. someone with significant gender-based trauma? And what does that look like in our current healthcare system? These are the questions you cannot answer. The Queerty comment section knows this. So, you know, just ramble into the void about Republicans or whatever. Pee in the wind, Dave. Pee a nice stream for us.
dbmcvey
He’s only realizing this now? It’s bad enough that he’s still supporting Masters and Vance.
abfab
Don’t even.
I cant read this. This shmuck should rot.
Creamsicle
Wow, he looks awful
abfab
Most if not all GOP GAY TROLLS do. Money can’t buy you love or a pretty face.
still_onthemark
Thiel wanted to transfuse himself with young people’s blood in order to rejuvenate himself and not only look younger but BE younger. Shades of Countess Elizabeth Bathory! (who someone mentioned to abfab recently).
abfab
Countess Elizabeth Báthory de Ecsed (Hungarian: Báthori Erzsébet, pronounced [?ba?tori ??r?e?b?t]; Slovak: Alžbeta Bátoriová; 7 August 1560 – 21 August 1614)[1] was a Hungarian noblewoman and alleged serial killer from the family of Báthory, who owned land in the Kingdom of Hungary (now Slovakia).
wiki
Imagine owning all that land. Trump thinks he still can. Thiel would like too but he’s over now too
dbmcvey
I do remember that now. Is it true that he was drinking the blood of young people?
dbmcvey
Or, rather, drinks the blood.
Maybe that’s why he looks so bad, Hepatitis.
abfab
Ivanka drrink your blood.
decrans
Abfab, we can say the same thing for Jennifer Pritzker. Billions of dollars can not erase the fact that you still look like your birth gender. Tell that to the kids. I sure do. That’s what I do now. I tell them the TRUTH.
dbmcvey
I love how this troll keeps pulling conservative conspiracy theories out of his @$$.
decrans
Which one? Jennifer Pritzker still has gender markers despite her wealth? I’d say the same for Caitlyn Jenner. Your state has a mass exodus of working class and middle class people? That’s also true. CalMatters isn’t BreitBart. (Shrugs) You look hysterical.
dbmcvey
All of them troll. You follow all the conspiracy theories. All the right wing flash points like when actual NAZIs protest a spa in Koreatown.
decrans
And here comes the Nazi remarks. That’s how you know you’ve lost an argument. You can’t respond to a NON-PARTISIAN JOURNAL OF THE CALIFORNIA intelligentsia. And so, you blabber out Nazi remarks. Such a brilliant mind.
WillParkinson
Gee, if only EVERYONE had told him that.
abfab
Wow, so this finally dawned on him?
”Thiel went on to say he was giving the interview to The Atlantic to go on record as stating he won’t donate any more money to politicians in the next Presidential campaign. He appears to believe lawmakers make big promises before entering office, but then lack grand ambition or the ability to do much once they gain power. He wants them to not bother him with calls seeking donations.”
Libertarians The new breed in stupid.
someplace
I’ve known a lot of well-meaning and otherwise smart libertarians who firmly believed some of the dumbest stuff ever. They’re very dense about their libertarian beliefs and if and when they finally admit they were wrong, they act as if no one could have known better, even though nearly everyone else did all along. I think their brains fail to make the transition into being an adult, because it all reeks of immature teenager-thinking.
dbmcvey
Libertarians apparently believe that business people never lie, never commit fraud, never put out dangerous products. It’s a completely naive way of thinking.
Ayn Rand’s books are complete fantasies. If the business leaders disappeared their businesses would keep running because it’s the workers who keep it going, not the bosses.
abfab
Ah yes, Ms Rand. Another one of the Great Charlatans. Pompous, too. She should be here to see how well here weak theories panned out and made for a better world.
decrans
And do people in Big Government never commit fraud or corporate malfeasance? Your own governor (Gov. Hair Gel) gave out COVID contracts to the Big Pharma corporations who donated to his campaign. The activists behind Black Lives Matter diverted funds and lived in mansions through a form of nepotism. It ain’t just regulated to libertarians. Hate to burst your bubble, Davey.
FreddieW
He gave millions to a crazy man who tried to overthrow the US government, and now he says it was wrong but he doesn’t regret it and won’t atone by directing money in a better direction now.
He isn’t libertarian. He only cares about his liberties. He’s a stupid, greedy, rich narcissist, just like the candidate he backed.
bachy
Thiel is a manipulative, avaricious and treacherous political player. Not to be trusted.
abfab
But bachy……………he’s so young!
Fahd
Still have not forgotten how he used Hulk Hogan to destroy Gawker.
To me, Thiel seems to be a deeply evil person.
I suppose it’s better he’s not giving money to the Count of Monte Crisco or other politicians, but he’s still on my naughty list for Christmas. Enjoy your coal.
abfab
He’s into Cryogenics. Well, his ego is into Cryogenics.
Kangol2
Thiel is a libertarian but also a capitalist utopian who once said something along the lines of he wished there were even more countries on the globe (he’s a citizen of several, don’t forget), in part because the more jurisdictions there were, the harder it would be to control the super rich. He bought Don the Con’s fascist nonsense, and I’m glad he finally woke up. I’m sure the tragic suicide of his ex-boytoy down in Miami this spring alongside the extremely anti-LBGTQ policies of DeFascist and others also shook him out of his Trumpian stupor. The man still has a LOT of money, power, and bad political impulses, though.
Speaking of Rand, she isn’t the only libertarian to worry about. One of the major American philosophers of the 20th century, Robert Nozick, wrote Anarchy, State, Utopia in 1974, as a response to John Rawl’s landmark A Theory of Justice (1971), which is considered one of the most important philosophical accounts of liberalism over the last 100 years. Nozick’s severe but reasoned book is a far more coherent (and, if you think it through, unreal) account of libertarianism than anything Ayn Rand ever wrote. The difference is Rand’s books are fiction, have interesting plots and provide lots of opportunities for emotional identification, which is why they remain so popular.
And then there’s the late Nobel laureate economists Milton Friedman and the arch-racist James M. Buchanan, two other people with libertarian leanings who unleashed all kinds of horrors, not least among them neoliberal capitalism, on the US and globe (though some of Friedman’s insights in monetary policy are quite brilliant and helped pull the US out of the economic collapse under George W. Bush).
Flamingo Falls
Blake Masters did not win his Senate campaign. He lost to incumbent U.S. Senator Mark Kelly by nearly 5 percentage points. Please fact check and proofread your articles.
decrans
Right? Queerty is riddled with basic errors. I worked on the opposing campaign for Katie Hobbs and told everyone to vote for Kari Lake. Maybe Queerty should stick to posting pics of white cis gay nipples. It’s what they do best.
dbmcvey
Kari Lake still thinks she won. You enable these fools.
Also, it’s amazing how your supposed “work” seems to be at every flashpoint for right wing conspiracy kooks. It’s almost like you’re lying.
decrans
At the time, Kari Lake seemed more appealing to me than Katie Hobbs, a woman who wilted under the lights of national media and couldn’t back up her own thoughts. And hey, that was the common response my fellow canvassers received at the door. I just agreed with the voters at the door. Katie Hobbs was a hard sell.
Since then, I’ve joined Gays Against Groomers and volunteered as a media assistant for a prominent gender de-transitioner who was interviewed by Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly. Changing worldviews!
I’ve said this to you multiple times over. If I received support from the LGBTQ community for the horrors I went through with the medical industry, perhaps the story would have turned out differently. And yet, here we are in 2023.
decrans
And yes, I do paid canvassing work getting third party candidates on the ballot part-time. It is what it is, Michelle Obama.
dbmcvey
So, this trolls is a person without morals, who will work for, and lie to anyone at any time. No surprise he’s still a liar.
decrans
Meanwhile, you callously dodged the backlogged system in your very home state. But tell us how exactly the working-class and middle class should vote for your party again. Republican vs. Republican-lite? You wanna talk about morals? Your Diet Coke Republicanism with Zero Calories! sure goes down the gullet good. Eye roll. Please spare me.
abfab
Some idiot likes to keep putting others thru the horrors that they went thru. Can you just imagine being in the same room with this lunatic. Imagine being one of this blabber mouth’s nurses or care givers?
This is one of those rare cases. ”It is what it is”, as this low-life, irritating, annoying TROLL likes to say. QUEERTY, please compile all of this person’s iterations as evidence should they go postal. It’s all right here.
Peace/
decrans
Meanwhile, your song lyrics are oh so sane. Bust out the theme song for ‘My Mother the Car’ while badly butchering words and tut-tutting Black Memphis hicks, you racist nutjob.
abfab
That’s not going to work. You can stop trying.
decrans
It sure got underneath your skin yesterday, didn’t it, Abbey? You had to clarify Memphis insults in regards to Freddy. It’s clear as day you look down on those inner-city minorities. You only see votes. Perhaps you should search for a raccoon carcass in the ditch near your trailer. I’m sure QAnon has some government buildings to storm come 2024. They think the Blacks are ignorant just like you. Get help for your racism, Abbey.
dbmcvey
So what are conservatives doing about racism–other than perpetuating it?
David Hudson
Thank you. That’s corrected.
Jaesly
I am so glad to see that no one (aside from Shaver) tried to excuse this monster. Proof that being gay doesn’t give a person empathy.
abfab
True. But Shaver is in no way, shape or form Gay. She’s miserable.
bachy
Quite the opposite, Jaesly. When a gay dude goes to the dark side…. look out!
inoroutdoor
Way to little and too late. DJT already spent your millions. Did he really expect something good in 2016? That’s why political contributions shld be limited to $5000 for individuals, corporations PACs and foreign countries.
Tad
Or maybe he’s just exactly what we thought all along, an opportunistic p***k who embraced the hatred, darkness and madness of the MAGA movement lock, stock and barrel. Who TF does he think he’s kidding here? I’m just sad that he’s a gay man. I’m ashamed to have him a member of the club.
abfab
Stay tuned. He’ll be going into conversion therapy soon. This is one sick human being. He can hire the best therapists. Let’s wish this little cupcake well.
DavidIntl
Well, I am a fairly pure libertarian, and a passionate meritocrat. But socially probably more liberal than almost anyone even in this forum. So, in a two-party system, there is effectively no one I can ever really support. It will always be the lesser of two evils. I actually saw Trump speak in person for the first time two days ago – and yeah, there were some very cringey moments, but also some great ones. What do you do with that?
abfab
”The lesser of the two evils.” Is that an original thought, your approach to living, or just a worthless cliche? Please let us know after you sober up from the rally.
FreddieW
He’s a criminal and aspiring dictator. I can’t imagine what you thought was great about anything he said. He belongs in prison or a psychiatric ward.
FreddieW
Do tell me how a dictator fits into a libertarian’s model of government.
DeeAnnCA
Trump lies as easy as breathing. He has no concept of the truth. You know, it doesn’t take a genius to tell the difference between 10,000sqft and 30,000sqft. The thing is, he truly believes that we are all stupid and will believe anything that he says. “Are you going to believe me or your lying eyes?” It makes no sense to trust someone with the government of a nation when they ran their own businesses aground 6 TIMES. If he’s incompetent at that level, why would anyone assume that he can run a government? I’m 74 and I NEVER heard of ANYONE making excuses for an ELECTED president saying that he didn’t understand what all the job entailed. Any they expect people to believe that BS. You know, ANY CEO worth his/her salt is loathe to have ONE bankruptcy on their record. Had he been in anything other than a family owned business he would have been shown the door after the 1st one. Aside from taking Top Secret documents from the White House, how can ANYONE think that it was OK to freely talk about military secrets to a foreign national?
No, Trump’s got to go. There is nothing redeemable about him at all.
DavidIntl
I agree that there are a lot of false statements, and something of a dictatorial attitude. But to answer the question as to what positives there could be for a libertarian – he leads a movement that is keen to dismantle the federal government establishment and return more authority to local governments. So, I may disagree with the reasons WHY they might want to, say, eliminate the federal Department of Education. But I agree with doing so, since it wasn’t authorised by the constitution in the first place, and there was never meant to be a federal role.
FreddieW
Careful that you don’t get poisoned with your dessert. Trump isn’t libertarian anymore than he’s evangelical or conservative. He is entirely self-absorbed and will do or say whatever is necessary to be worshipped by his cult. Some evangelicals — like Mike Pence — used this to their advantage to alter the Supreme Court and miscalculated, nearly destroying the nation and themselves in the process. And they validated a population of nominally religious fanatics who care nothing about traditional Christian values, because Trump exhibits none.
abfab
Traditional Christian Values. Save it Fred. There’s no such thing.
abfab
Hello @ DeeAnn. Still love your hat BTW! xo
The thing is……………………………;;The thing is, he truly believes that we are all stupid and will believe anything that he says”
THE REPUBLICANS AND LIBERTARIANS WHO VOTED for DONALD SHITHEAD ARE THAT STUPID!!!!!!!
They still are and always will be. Much like the POS, they are losers.
FreddieW
Poor dear abfab. Didn’t grow up in a nice Christian family. Yes, they do exist.
My whole family is Christian and they all accept me and my partner, too. Took my sister a while because she married into the Church of Christ, where they think Baptists are going to hell with homosexuals.
abfab
I grew up in and still have a nice family. Their/my religion is none of your businesss.
Your remark……tell us Fred. Was that very Christian of you to use that tone and accusation. Of course it was!
And your sister, since you brought her here, is a total mess.
FreddieW
I think I’ve said like a thousand times that I’m not Christian anymore. You complain about my personal anecdotes, but you obviously don’t read them.
James
PETER THEIL IS NAZI TRASH.
DeeAnnCA
Sadly, too many people were not paying attention. I knew what a slug Trump was in the 80’s. It took a long time for folks to catch up with this. No way should he ever be allowed to be anywhere near the presidency.
LumpyPillows
Thiel did get his billionaire tax cuts though, so he got what he wanted. Glad to see he’s changed his tune, but don’t expect him to be supporting any democrat in the future either.