The honeymoon is over.
Mere hours after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday temporarily barring immigration to the States from seven countries, tech industry executives began publishing notices criticizing the new regulation and warning employees of its potential broad and dramatic impacts.
From Apple, Google and Facebook to Microsoft, Airbnb and Box, the message was pretty much the same: Limiting immigration hurts employees and innovation.
"Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an email to employees, in which he also promised the company would do what it can to help staff affected by the order. He also said the order "is not a policy we support."
Some tech VIPs were more forceful. "This is a breach of America's contract with all the immigrants in the nation," wrote Sam Altman, head of Y Combinator, which has invested in more than 900 startups, including Dropbox, Airbnb, Reddit and Instacart.
And others outright slammed the president. "Trump's order is simple bigotry," tweeted Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder who also started a media company called First Look.
Together, the statements mark a turning point in Trump's relationship with the tech industry. With few exceptions, Silicon Valley executives have spent the last decade campaigning and fund-raising for former President Barack Obama and presidential contender Hillary Clinton, making clear their support for Democrats and the party's causes like net neutrality, expanded education and LGBT rights.
Following Trump's surprise win, 13 tech execs met with him at Trump Tower in New York, discussing issues such as investment, trade and, yes, immigration policy. It appeared at the time that industry executives were cautiously preparing to work with him.
"We want you to keep going with the incredible innovation," Trump said then. "Anything we can do to help this go along, we're going to be there for you."
Some of the executives have taken Trump up on his offer. Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist and Facebook board member who gave a speech at the Republican National Convention last year, has become an advisor to Trump's team. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick have joined a strategic forum of business leaders advising Trump. Apple's Cook has been spotted meeting with administration officials around Washington, while Google has stepped up its lobbying efforts.
Trump's immigration moves may throw a wrench in that budding relationship, though. The tech industry may now choose to flex its political muscle against the president, and do it more often.
"Them being silent on this issue would be foolish," said Joe Tuman, a professor at San Francisco State University and a former Oakland mayoral candidate. Tuman said the tech industry's competitive talent pool means it needs the best of the best, regardless of what country they come from. "Frankly, they may have more trouble ahead if they don't say anything."
The 90-day ban, which has been temporarily halted by a judge, affects immigrants from seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya.
Throughout the weekend it appears the details were shifting though. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Sunday morning that green card holders wouldn't be affected. But he later added, "if you're traveling back and forth you're going to be subjected to further screening."
Regardless, the administration appeared to have little taste for the international backlash the ban. Kellyanne Conway, a Trump administration spokeswoman, tweeted, "Get used to it," and promised the president was "just getting started."
The White House didn't respond to a request for further comment.
source
Mere hours after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday temporarily barring immigration to the States from seven countries, tech industry executives began publishing notices criticizing the new regulation and warning employees of its potential broad and dramatic impacts.
From Apple, Google and Facebook to Microsoft, Airbnb and Box, the message was pretty much the same: Limiting immigration hurts employees and innovation.
"Apple would not exist without immigration, let alone thrive and innovate the way we do," Apple CEO Tim Cook said in an email to employees, in which he also promised the company would do what it can to help staff affected by the order. He also said the order "is not a policy we support."
Some tech VIPs were more forceful. "This is a breach of America's contract with all the immigrants in the nation," wrote Sam Altman, head of Y Combinator, which has invested in more than 900 startups, including Dropbox, Airbnb, Reddit and Instacart.
And others outright slammed the president. "Trump's order is simple bigotry," tweeted Pierre Omidyar, eBay's founder who also started a media company called First Look.
Following Trump's surprise win, 13 tech execs met with him at Trump Tower in New York, discussing issues such as investment, trade and, yes, immigration policy. It appeared at the time that industry executives were cautiously preparing to work with him.
"We want you to keep going with the incredible innovation," Trump said then. "Anything we can do to help this go along, we're going to be there for you."
Some of the executives have taken Trump up on his offer. Peter Thiel, a venture capitalist and Facebook board member who gave a speech at the Republican National Convention last year, has become an advisor to Trump's team. Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Uber CEO Travis Kalanick have joined a strategic forum of business leaders advising Trump. Apple's Cook has been spotted meeting with administration officials around Washington, while Google has stepped up its lobbying efforts.
Trump's immigration moves may throw a wrench in that budding relationship, though. The tech industry may now choose to flex its political muscle against the president, and do it more often.
"Them being silent on this issue would be foolish," said Joe Tuman, a professor at San Francisco State University and a former Oakland mayoral candidate. Tuman said the tech industry's competitive talent pool means it needs the best of the best, regardless of what country they come from. "Frankly, they may have more trouble ahead if they don't say anything."
The 90-day ban, which has been temporarily halted by a judge, affects immigrants from seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and Libya.
Throughout the weekend it appears the details were shifting though. White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said Sunday morning that green card holders wouldn't be affected. But he later added, "if you're traveling back and forth you're going to be subjected to further screening."
Regardless, the administration appeared to have little taste for the international backlash the ban. Kellyanne Conway, a Trump administration spokeswoman, tweeted, "Get used to it," and promised the president was "just getting started."
The White House didn't respond to a request for further comment.
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