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Trump Taps Prominent Silicon Valley Conservative to Lead Tech Policy Transition

In Citizen
January 18, 2025

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President Trump has appointed David Sacks, a prominent venture capitalist and podcast host, to oversee the regulation of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley. Sacks has expressed the belief that these technologies should be regulated with a lighter touch.

Authored by Theodore Schleifer

For the past few years, Theodore Schleifer has been writing about David Sacks’ involvement in political activities.

The incoming President, Donald J. Trump, has appointed a well-known conservative figure from Silicon Valley to assist in managing technology policy in the United States.

The president-elect announced on social media that David Sacks, a venture capitalist and former executive at PayPal who has a successful podcast, will be taking on the role of "White House A.I. and Crypto Czar." Sacks is a friend of Elon Musk and has been one of the individuals encouraging Musk to become more involved in Republican politics over the past year.

A new position is being created within the Trump White House, signaling a shift towards a more lenient approach to regulating technology, especially cryptocurrencies. These digital assets have increased in value since Trump’s election, and Trump himself has personal business interests in them. The individual appointed to this position, Mr. Sacks, is the leader of a venture capital firm named Craft Ventures and has advocated for less restrictive policies on both cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence.

During the Trump transition, Mr. Sacks emerged victorious in a debate regarding the organization of certain roles within the team. Initially, there were suggestions to have separate individuals manage artificial intelligence and crypto matters, but ultimately Mr. Sacks was selected to oversee both areas in a combined role.

"David has been appointed to lead the Administration’s efforts in Artificial Intelligence and Cryptocurrency, which are crucial for America’s future competitiveness," stated Mr. Trump during a Thursday evening announcement. "David’s main goal will be to ensure that America becomes the top global leader in both these areas."

According to his firm, Mr. Sacks does not hold a full-time position. He had mentioned to friends that he preferred not to have a formal role as it would mean stepping away from his responsibilities at his venture capital fund. Recently, Mr. Sacks announced a new round of start-up funding that was led by his firm.

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