Rebecca Shaw Slams Tech Titans’ Cringe-Worthy Alliance with Trump in Scathing Column
Ohio. | Joe Maiorana/AP
In a biting column for The Guardian, Rebecca Shaw lambasts tech moguls like Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, for their apparent attempts to ingratiate themselves with President-elect Donald Trump. Shaw argues that their actions not only enable the harmful policies of Trump’s second administration but also highlight a cringeworthy desperation for approval.
“The coming destruction that will be waged by the second Trump administration is being made all the more painful by the presence of Silicon Valley CEOs who appear intent on acting as his henchmen,” Shaw writes.
Her critique extends beyond policy to the personal posturing of these tech titans. “I knew that one day we might have to watch as capitalism and greed and bigotry led to a world where powerful men, deserving or not, would burn it all down,” Shaw contends.
“What I didn’t expect, and don’t think I could have foreseen, is how incredibly cringe it would all be. I have been prepared for evil, for greed, for cruelty, for injustice – but I did not anticipate that the people in power would also be such huge losers.”
Shaw takes specific aim at Zuckerberg’s recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, where he spoke about the need for more “masculine energy” while simultaneously dismantling Facebook’s restrictions on hate speech. “What could be more masculine and cool than selling out vulnerable communities and women to impress the alpha male?” she asks rhetorically.
She also criticizes Musk and Zuckerberg’s broader attempts to appear relatable or “cool,” describing it as “a unique horror, one that science fiction has failed to prepare us for.”
The column doesn’t shy away from dark humor, as Shaw suggests rethinking societal norms. “All of this leads me to wonder if it’s time to ‘bring back bullying,’” she muses before concluding, “It’s time for us to start getting revenge on the nerds.”
Shaw’s scathing critique not only highlights the potential societal consequences of tech leaders aligning with Trump but also mocks their personal posturing, portraying them as out-of-touch and desperate for validation in ways that undermine their power and influence. Her column resonates as both a warning and a call to action against the unholy alliance of big tech and politics.
